Volume 88 No. 11
NOVEMBER 2024
“The Voice of Port Industries” @VAmaritime
$4M SECURED TO ADVANCE DEEPENING OF ELIZABETH RIVER CHANNELS
CHESAPEAKE, VA | On October 16, 2024, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) delivered $4,000,000 in community project funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the Elizabeth River and its Southern Branch. The funding, secured in the FY 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act with support from Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, will advance preliminary engineering and design to deepen key sections of the waterway. This includes deepening the 40-foot channel to 45 feet, the Southern Branch’s 42-foot channel, and a portion of the 35foot channel to 39 feet. This project is critical for the Port of Virginia and the Hampton Roads region, allowing vessels to carry fuller loads of commodities such as soybeans, grains, and wood pellets for export, while efficiently handling imported goods like fertilizers and industrial materials. Continue Reading on Page 3
MICROPOROUS TO INVEST $1.35 BILLION IN PITTSYLVANIA PITTSYLVANIA, COUNTY VA | significantly boosting the local economy and solidifying Virginia’s Microporous LLC, a prominent battery separator manufacturer, is set to make a transformative $1.35 billion investment in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The company will establish a new manufacturing facility on the Southern Virginia Megasite, spanning over 1 million square feet across two phases, each Photo: Microporus approximately 500,000 square feet. This project is anticipated to create 2,015 jobs,
INSIDE THIS EDITION
position in the advanced manufacturing sector. Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the historic nature of this investment, noting its role in positioning Virginia at the forefront of the nation’s manufacturing resurgence. The decision to locate in Pittsylvania County was also supported by federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was championed by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Local officials, including Pittsylvania County Board Chairman Darrell Dalton and Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones, expressed their excitement for the project, highlighting its potential to enhance economic development and workforce opportunities in the region. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and other local agencies played crucial roles in securing this project, which is expected to further attract businesses and investments to the area. Source: Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
h Navigational Summit (4)
h Association in Action (6)
h Upcoming VMA Events (2)
h Port Statistics (5)
h Celebrating Roger Giesinger (7)
h Committee & Chapter Updates (3)
h VMA’s Annual Business Meeting (5)
h New Members (7)
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