Blog Posts

Back to Blog August 3, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Communities with connected trail systems don’t just attract walkers and cyclists, they attract visitors, new residents, and business investment. Studies consistently show that trails increase tourism spending, support local businesses, raise nearby property values, and make communities more attractive to employers recruiting talent.…

Back to Blog August 3, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber NASA Langley Research Center is taking a significant step toward expanding its innovation ecosystem with the release of a Request for Information (RFI) seeking private-sector interest in developing portions of its Hampton campus. The RFI invites developers, research organizations, higher education institutions, and…

Back to Blog August 3, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Virginia is developing its 2026 Virginia Energy Plan, a roadmap that will guide the Commonwealth’s energy future for the next decade. The plan will influence everything from electricity generation and grid reliability to energy costs and emerging technologies such as nuclear, offshore wind,…

Back to Blog August 3, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Another Virginia Peninsula innovation success story is reaching new heights. Psionic, a Hampton Roads technology company developing advanced navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, has been selected by NASA as part of the agency’s 2025 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO), joining 37 U.S. companies…

Back to Blog July 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Several new Virginia employment laws are set to take effect in 2026, bringing important changes that employers should understand and prepare for. Among the most significant is a new pay transparency requirement that will require employers to include a good-faith salary range in…

Back to Blog July 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Newport News continues to strengthen its position as a hub for innovation and advanced research. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility broke ground on the new Jefferson Lab Data Center, a facility that will serve as…

Back to Blog July 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Healthcare remains one of the Peninsula’s largest economic drivers, and a major investment announced this spring will strengthen both regional healthcare capacity and the local economy. Bon Secours recently broke ground on a new $200 million patient tower at Mary Immaculate Hospital in…

Back to Blog July 6, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber Virginia’s manufacturing sector received a significant boost this year as Annandale Millwork and Allied Systems Corporation announced an $11.5 million expansion in Newport News. The family-owned company, along with Frogale Lumber Supply, expects to create 154 new jobs while strengthening Virginia’s forestry and…

Back to Blog June 1, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber As workforce shortages continue to challenge employers across the maritime, construction, and industrial sectors, the newly opened Newport News Trades Center is emerging as a major investment in the region’s talent pipeline. Developed through a partnership involving Virginia Peninsula Community College, the Newport…

Back to Blog June 1, 2026 By Bob McKenna Virginia Peninsula Chamber More than a decade after the closure of Fort Monroe as an active military installation, redevelopment efforts continue potentially transforming the historic waterfront property into one of the Peninsula’s most unique mixed-use destinations. Recent momentum has centered around a new $20 million redevelopment…