Blog Posts
SURATech Awarded Jefferson Lab Contract, Strengthening Region’s Innovation Future
Back to Blog April 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that SURATech has been awarded the Management & Operations (M&O) contract for Jefferson Lab-an important development for the Virginia Peninsula and greater Hampton Roads region. This award provides critical long-term leadership stability for one of the…
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Port of Virginia Powers Our Economy
Back to Blog April 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber The Port of Virginia has reached a major milestone, completing the deepening of Norfolk Harbor to 55 feet in February 2026. This makes it the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast and the only one able to handle fully loaded ultra-large container…
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HRPDC & HRTPO: Proof That Regional Collaboration Is Alive and Well in Hampton Roads
Back to Blog April 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber You’ve probably heard the old narrative: Hampton Roads struggles to collaborate. It’s a familiar refrain, but it doesn’t hold up, especially when you look at the work of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC). If anything, collaboration is HRPDC’s middle name. HRPDC…
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HRBT Expansion Hits Key Milestone –Â Strengthening Regional Connectivity
Back to Blog April 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project reached a significant milestone this March as “Mary,” the tunnel-boring machine constructing the new harbor crossings, completed excavation and is now being removed from the site. This marks a major step forward in the region’s $4 billion…
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AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding & Infrastructure Repair Services in Hampton Roads
Back to Blog March 31, 2026 By Kings Mobile Welding, LLC As infrastructure projects continue to expand across Hampton Roads and the greater Virginia region, the need for qualified, code-compliant field welding has never been more critical. Bridge rehabilitation, expansion joint replacement, and structural repairs require experienced welders who understand the demands of working in…
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GO Virginia: Investing in Regional Growth on the Virginia Peninsula
Back to Blog March 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber The Growth and Opportunity Virginia (GO Virginia) initiative is a statewide economic development program designed to strengthen regional economies through collaboration among business, education, and local government partners. Its mission is to expand workforce opportunities, grow traded‑sector industries, support innovation, and prepare sites…
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Virginia Beer Company Officially Opens
Back to Blog March 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Historic Yorktown welcomed a vibrant new business this winter with the grand opening of The Kitchen, the latest brewpub from The Virginia Beer Company. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on January 29, 2026, followed by a public celebration on January 30, marking a…
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Maritime Training System Shows Strong Regional Impact
Back to Blog March 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber The Hampton Roads Maritime Training System (HRMTS) 2025 Impact Report highlights major progress in strengthening our region’s maritime workforce. Launched in 2024 as an initiative of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, HRMTS was designed to align employers, training providers, and workforce partners around…
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EVRIFA: Regional Collaboration Powering Peninsula Economic Growth
Back to Blog February 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna, Virginia Peninsula Chamber The Eastern Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority (EVRIFA) is a regional economic development partnership changing how localities across the Peninsula and Hampton Roads compete, by working together instead of separately. Created under Virginia’s Regional Industrial Facilities Act and formally recognized in 2019, EVRIFA…
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