REGIONAL VIEW shenandoah valley
Association chapter promotes ties to Virginia ports by Joan Tupponce
ley Chapter of the Virginia Maritime Association, Devon Anders wants to spread the word about maritime issues affecting busi- nesses in the valley. The chapter’s terri-
A
tory stretches along the Interstate 81 corridor from Staunton to Front Royal. “Our first course of action is to start growing the membership,” Anders says, noting the group held its first meeting in April. Anders, who also is presi-
dent of Harrisonburg-based InterChange Group, a logistics company, was “highly recom- mended for the chairmanship,” says Ashley McLeod, com- munications and member- ship director of the Virginia Maritime Association, based in Norfolk. “He’s familiar with the valley, and he understands the purpose of the association and how the valley connects with the ports.”
FOR THE RECORD
Lumos Networks Corp.’s stockholders have approved its acquisition by EQT Infrastruc- ture. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regula- tory approvals. The merger is expected to be completed dur- ing the third quarter. Under the terms of the merger agreement, EQT Infrastructure will acquire all of Waynesboro-based Lumos Networks’ common stock for $950 million. Lumos Networks stockholders of record will receive $18 per share in cash. (
VirginiaBusiness.com)
The Mount Jackson Town Council gave the final green light for preparations to begin construction of a solar farm.
Photo courtesy Port of Virginia
s chairman of the newly formed Shenandoah Val-
Devon Anders (inset) leads the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Virginia Maritime Association. The Virginia Inland Port is based in Front Royal.
The Shenandoah Valley chapter is the second the association has established outside Hampton Roads — the first was the Central Virginia chapter, formed in 2015. “The valley was the next
target because of the Virginia Inland Port [in Front Royal],” McLeod says. “We also want to establish chapters in South- side, Southwest and Northern Virginia. We want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.” The Maritime Associa-
The council voted 6-0 to grant a special-use permit to Virginia Solar to built a 160-acre, 16.65-megawatt farm. The farm will be built on part of a 712-acre parcel that its owner, Planning Commissioner Robert Whitehurst, hopes to turn into an industrial site. The farm will generate electricity to be sold to Dominion Energy. (The Shenandoah Valley-Herald)
The Shenandoah County Industrial Development Authority approved a resolu- tion creating a county economic development director position. Now it’s up to the Board of Supervisors to decide whether to support the initiative aimed at boosting the county’s economy. The resolution states that the IDA offers to provide
tion, which has a membership of more than 450 companies, promotes commerce through Virginia’s ports. The Shenan- doah Valley chapter now has around a dozen member companies. Part of the chapter’s focus
will be on the Virginia Inland Port, an intermodal container transfer facility owned by the Virginia Port Authority and served by rail. “Virginia Inland Port is
an underutilized port,” Anders says, noting the valley is home
funding to hire and retain a full-time director with costs estimated at $150,000 per year. (Northern Virginia Daily)
Thirteen communities have banded together to promote tourism stretching from Winchester to Lexington. The Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership unveiled its new marketing partnership and message during an event at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corp.’s “What’s New?” program. The Virginia Tourism Corp. is the state agency charged with mar- keting the state. (News Leader)
PEOPLE Carrie Hileman Chenery of
www.VirginiaBusiness.com
to many warehouses and distri- bution centers. “The I-81 corri- dor is one of the busiest [truck routes] out there, and a lot of the goods being transported originate at the ports. Virginia Inland takes part of the load off of the road system.” The valley’s connection
to the ports is greater than ever now that business is “more globally oriented,” he adds. “We want to bring awareness to port issues … We want to get people excited and involved.”
Staunton, the executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Part- nership, has been appointed to the Virginia Economic Develop- ment Partnership board of directors. (News release)
Chris Scott has been named executive director of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Boyce. He was executive director of Help with
Housing Inc. He also previously served as executive director of the American Red Cross Top of Virginia chapter in Winchester. (News release)
Matthew Smith, a driver for Wal-Mart Transportation in Mount Crawford, received
the 2017 Virginia State Truck Driver of the Year award from the Virginia Trucking Associa- tion. Smith has been with the company for more than 18 years and is approaching 2.5 million safe miles. (Shenandoah Valley Business Journal)
Shenandoah University will name its newest campus facility after James R. “Jimmy” Wilkins Jr., a member of the board of trustees. The James R. Wilkins Jr. Athletics & Events Center will be a 77,000-square-foot indoor athletic facility, which will serve the university’s 21 athletics teams, the entire university community and the local and regional communities. Wilkins is vice president of Silver Lake Properties and JRW Properties and Rentals Inc. (News release)
VIRGINIA BUSINESS 13
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