12 The Hampton Roads Messenger
Volume 12 Number 5 Around Hampton Roads
Governor McAuliffe Announces $10 Million Investment in the City of Chesapeake
RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America (SMA) will invest $10 million to expand its manufacturing operation in the City of Chesapeake. The company will add 100,000 square feet to its North American headquarters at the Cavalier Industrial Park which is home to 220 employees overseeing 18 facilities spanning across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America. The project will retain 20 existing jobs and create 26 new jobs.
“Sumitomo has achieved impressive success at its U.S. headquarters in the City of Chesapeake since relocating in 1987, and we are proud that the company continues to reinvest in Virginia,” said Governor McAuliffe. “As a global giant in the advanced manufacturing industry, Sumitomo’s repeated expansion in Chesapeake is a strong testament to our advancement growing this critical sector as we diversify and build the new Virginia economy.”
Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, one of the largest manufacturers of machinery in Japan and a global leader in power transmission knowledge and innovation. SMA is a premier power transmission and control solution provider with customers across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America for over 50 years.
“It is always gratifying to see a Virginia-headquartered manufacturing company expand and further strengthen this important sector,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. “Sumitomo could have made this investment at any one of its U.S. manufacturing operations, and we are grateful the company has secured its longevity in the Commonwealth. We are confident that Chesapeake and the Hampton Roads region will continue to provide a business climate and infrastructure that enables Sumitomo to thrive for another 30 years.”
“Virginia offers many of the important benefits that a company looks for when deciding where to locate their business or whether to expand existing operations,” said James D. Solomon, President and CEO of Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America. “Close proximity to the Port of Virginia, access to a highly skilled workforce, business-friendly regulations and ongoing support from the City of Chesapeake have all contributed to our growth in the Commonwealth. 2018 marks the 30th Anniversary of SMA’s relocation to Virginia and we look forward to a bright future with this newly announced expansion.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the City of Chesapeake to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the City with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America is currently participating in VEDP’s award-winning Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program. VALET is an application-based, two-year international export acceleration program.
“It is exciting to start off the New Year with Sumitomo’s announcement to expand its growing advanced manufacturing operations, once again, in Chesapeake,” said Mayor Rick West, City of Chesapeake. “For 30 years, Sumitomo has called Chesapeake home and achieved significant milestones that have positively impacted their facilities, employees and our community at large. We are truly fortunate to have Sumitomo as a corporate citizen and look forward to celebrating their 30th Anniversary in 2018 while setting the stage for the next 30 years.”
“Sumitomo has been an important member of the Chesapeake business community for decades, and I am thrilled to see the company reinvesting in its North American headquarters,” said Senator Lionel Spruill. “Sumitomo has made a wise choice to grow in Hampton Roads, and will continue to benefit from our outstanding workforce. I am proud for Sumitomo to call my district home, and look forward to the company’s future growth in Chesapeake.”
“Sustainable economic growth is a key driver for strong communities,” said Delegate Cliff Hayes. “For thirty years we’ve enjoyed a great community partnership with Sumitomo. We’re excited that they are adding jobs in the 77th House District and expanding in Cavalier Industrial Park.”
Ella Fitzgerald at 100
Celebrating the 100th birthday of Ella Fitzgerald, a native of Newport News, Award winning Jazz artist and Virginia Native, Desirée Roots brings to life Ella’s most noted songs. Accompanied by some of Virginia’s most acclaimed Jazz musicians, this evening of celebration and joy comes to The American Theatre stage for just two performances. Joining Roots on stage will be Scott Wichmann as Frank Sinatra, Billy Dye as Louis Armstrong, and Anthony Cosby as Nat “King” Cole. Born April 25, 1917, Ella Fitzgerald was one of the greatest Jazz singers of all time. “The First Lady of Song” delighted audiences around the world for over 60 years, sold over 40 million albums, and received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Commemorate Ella at 100!
Newport News Fire Department Launches Lifesaving App
Today the Fire Department officially launched PulsePoint in Newport News. PulsePoint is a nationally known program that interfaces with the City’s dispatch system and alerts CPR-trained citizens when someone is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest in a nearby public location.
Mayor McKinley Price said, “We are excited to now have PulsePoint in our community. This program will benefit both residents and visitors of Newport News
– and with American Heart Month beginning next week, now is the perfect time to bring awareness to PulsePoint and for citizens to get involved. If one life can be saved through this app, it’s definitely worth it.”
Nationally, more than 350,000 people each year experience out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest and the survival rate is just 11%. Statistics show that early CPR and cardiac defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator (AED) can significantly increase a patient's ability to survive sudden cardiac arrest. This program allows citizens to download the PulsePoint Respond mobile app and receive an alert if they are within a quarter mile of the distressed person’s location. Citizens can also download the companion PulsePoint AED mobile app to help identify the location of AEDs in public facilities throughout the city. Both apps are available for download for free from Google Play and the Apple Store.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community partner Riverside,” Price continued. “It’s another example of Riverside’s long-standing commitment to improving the health and well-being of citizens in Newport News and in the region.”
Little Free Libraries Popping Up in Norfolk
NORFOLK, VA – Initiated by the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library (NPL), the Norfolk Little Free Library project is placing 20 book exchanges across the city in an effort to foster literacy and community spirit. Fourteen of the twenty Little Free Libraries will be in the following neighborhoods: West Ocean View, Hewitt Farms, Northside, Wards Corner, Talbot Park, Park Place, Lamberts Point, Villa Heights, Cromwell Drive, Coleman Place, West Ghent and Freemason.
The wooden book exchanges are the result of a collaboration with the City’s Neighborhood Engagement Office, General Services Department, Norfolk Public Library, Colley Avenue Printing, Norfolk Collegiate School along with the Friends of NPL. A private donation and a matching gift provided the project seed money.
Construction will start soon on the concrete bases and posts to secure the ready- made Little Free Libraries at each location.
Each Little Free Library will have a steward who will maintain their designated book exchange. Six more stewards are needed to round out the 20 exchanges. Those interested may apply by contacting the Friends of Norfolk Public Library via email
friendsofnorfolklibrary@gmail.com, on Facebook at @FNPLva or by phone at 757.489.4504.
The Little Free Library initiative was established in 2010 after Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother in 2009 and posted it in his front yard for neighbors and friends to enjoy a book exchange. Inspired by community gift-sharing, Bol joined forces with Rick Brooks of UW-Madison with a goal of creating 2508 Little Free Libraries – the same number of free public libraries philanthropist Andrew Carnegie set to fund at the turn of the 20th century. Bol and Brooks exceeded their goal a year and a half before their targeted date. The initiative has gained national recognition and awards, including the Library of Congress Literacy Award in 2015. As of 2017, over 60,000 little free libraries have been registered in all US states and over 80 countries.
Portsmouth Black History Expo
Enjoy the music of Port Towne Magic and hear Dr. Newby-Alexander give a lecture on her new book “Virginia Waterways and the Underground Railroad”. There will be a book signing following the lecture and copies of the book will be available for purchase – 5:30-7:30pm on Wednesday, February 21st at the Churchland library (no registration required). Call 757-686-2538 with inquiries.
Bonding Over Books: Regional Reading Program Relaunches in April
SUFFOLK, VA - Tidewater Reads, a literary collaborative that began in 2015, is launching its third program this April with a special focus on Kwame Alexander, a poet and educator with roots in the Tidewater Area who is a New York Times Bestselling author of 24 books. Public libraries in Eastern Shore, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk and York County joined with the Muse Writing Center and the Suffolk Art League to sponsor this year’s initiative. The organization’s goal is more than reading. They want to build a sense of community by encouraging people across the region to read and talk about the same book at the same time and participate in related activities. While the book selected as the focus for 2018 is Kwame’s most recently published Solo, he has written books for a wide range of ages, from picture books to young adult novels, so the whole family can get involved. Each participating organization will host their own activities and programs centered on Tidewater Reads which will supplement four keystone events sponsored by the group. To get the community excited for a month of celebrating the famed poet, Tidewater Reads is challenging those of all ages to submit a piece of their own original work to a poetry contest. The contest will be open for entries February 26 through March 16, 2018 with entry forms available through the Tidewater Reads website and at each participating library. There are five age categories from kindergarten to adult and the top three poems from each participating locality will move on to be judged in the Tidewater Reads regional competition. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of each age division on Saturday, April 28th during the Kwame Reads event at the Slover Library in Norfolk. Winning entries will be compiled into a digital poetry book made available at
TidewaterReads.org. Tidewater Reads month will kick off with Battle of the Bands at FM Restaurant in Norfolk on April 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Six bands will go head to head with 20 minutes of stage time competing for a prize. This
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