Blog Posts
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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DOE-Backed Jefferson Lab Renovation to Transform Facility into Science and Education Hub
Back to Blog February 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna, Virginia Peninsula Chamber A U.S. Department of Energy-backed renovation at Jefferson Lab will transform a facility previously owned by the City of Newport News-now transferred to Jefferson Lab-into a next-generation science and education hub, further positioning the Virginia Peninsula as a center for research, innovation, and…
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KONGSBERG Breaks Ground on Advanced Missile Facility in James City County
Back to Blog February 2, 2026 By Bob McKenna, Virginia Peninsula Chamber Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc. marked a major milestone for the region’s defense economy on January 16, 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony for its first U.S.-based missile manufacturing and maintenance facility in James City County, Virginia. Located in Toano, the state-of-the-art facility will…
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