Community Profile: Hampton Roads
Florence Kingston says construction soon will begin on the fi rst research building in the Tech Center Research Park in Newport News.
the first research building at Tech Center Research Park, a 50-acre site adjacent to the Thomas Jefferson National Accelera- tor Facility. Emphasizing entrepreneurship, the
park, part of the 100-acre Tech Center, will provide 1 million square feet of office and laboratory space for high-tech com- panies performing advanced research. “We have a good cluster of companies that do advanced manufacturing, and we’re building a welcoming environment of smaller business startups through the Tech Center,” Kingston says. Meanwhile, Newport News Ship-
the notion that if we wait long enough, the military will build up and solve the problem, but that’s not prudent. We have to diversify the economy by identifying sectors that are not military dependent and accelerate their growth.” HREDA has crafted an ambitious
five-year strategy to attract diverse busi- nesses to the region and create 71,000 jobs, including 32,000 higher-wage positions in industries such as corporate, professional and financial services, health care, manufacturing, and maritime and supply chain management. “We need to get back to the basics and do fundamental economic develop-
ADP is hiring 1,800 employees to staff its downtown Norfolk site.
ment — build and improve the workforce, build and improve property and inventory and build and improve the regulatory and tax environment,” Weddle says. “Our challenge is to assemble the resources needed to effectively brand and promote the region.”
Tech Center Research Park Florence Kingston, Newport News’
economic development director, agrees that Hampton Roads must reduce its reliance on the military. The city already is home to firms such as Canon Virginia and Alion Science & Technology, and construction soon will be underway on
building, the state’s largest industrial employer and sole builder of naval aircraft carriers, plans to add 3,000 employees. The company is expected to benefit from President Donald Trump’s plans to expand the Navy, including add- ing another aircraft carrier to its current fleet of 11. “We’ve got to support that,” Kingston says, “but not forget the need to focus on other diversification and growth to balance out military spending.” Weddle believes Hampton Roads
can play off Newport News Shipbuild- ing’s expansion without becoming further dependent on military dollars. “We need to build on our military strength but not rely on it by marketing the region during more prosperous times and investing in infrastructure, sites and facilities, educa- tion and training as the region prepares for non-military dependence,” he says.
ADP and an arena In addition to the opening of The
Main and Waterside, Norfolk is raising its profile with a big jobs boost from New Jersey-based ADP (Automated Data Processing). The human resources company plans to hire 1,800 employees to staff a hub in downtown Norfolk. ADP has invested $32.5 million in revamping 286,000 square feet of a formerly empty office tower. Retailers also are attracting interest
in Norfolk. The first phase of the long- awaited $75 million Simon’s Norfolk Premium Outlets is set to open this summer, and a 332,000-square-foot Ikea store will open next year. Next door in Virginia Beach, the
city has struck a deal with United States Management to proceed with
68 MAY 2017 Photos by Mark Rhodes
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