Last Chance!  
Only one week left to nominate someone to be VGR's Ambassador of the Year! Based on your nominations, our Special Awards Committee will choose an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution and dedication to economic development within the region. The award will be presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting in the spring of 2014. For additional information or to nominate, please contact
Partner Spotlight 
Froehling & Robertson, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm that provides clients with the full range of services, including - but not limited to - core competencies of construction management, construction materials testing, and environmental and geotechnical engineering. In support of this mission, F&R maintains a fleet of drilling equipment as well as accredited geotechnical and construction material testing laboratories that are utilized by each of our fourteen offices.

Chesterfield, VSU Partner On Water Tower
John Ramsey | Richmond Times-Dispatch | Full Story

Chesterfield County and Virginia State University both had plans to erect separate 1 million-gallon water towers. When leaders in both organizations realized they had similar plans, they hatched a plan they estimate will save the county and the school about $1 million each.

 

Instead of two 1 million-gallon towers, the thinking went, why not build one 2 million-gallon tower?

 

Chesterfield Utilities Director Roy Covington said a deal to split evenly the cost of one tower made too much sense to pass up. The smaller towers would have cost between $3 million and $3.5 million each, while one larger tower will likely cost about $4.5 million. 

Ethanol Plant Being Prepped to Open 

Leah Small | The Progress-Index | Full Story 

HOPEWELL - A plan by Vireol Bio-Industries PLC to open the ethanol plant instead of shipping it overseas was unofficially announced at a meeting of city industrialists, sparsely attended by the public. Larry Wilson, plant manager, made the announcement Monday night at the Hopewell Community Industrial Panel meeting.

 

Mayor Michael Bujakowski said that it didn't matter how the message was received, only that it was good news.  

 

"It probably wasn't the ideal situation for that, [but] it's the message that counts - not who gave the message," he said. "If they do open the plant and run it, it will be a positive thing for the city."