AGP Executive Report

Data Center Policy: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s accountability framework calls for more community input, environmental safeguards, affordable power and reliable grid planning as Virginia manages data-center growth. State utility regulators are also urging earlier commitments and ratepayer protections for large new electricity users. Utility Merger: Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi opposes Dominion Energy’s proposed merger with NextEra, citing concerns about higher rates; lawmakers are scrutinizing the deal. Defense Investment: Anduril and the Navy announced a $6.6 billion Maryland shipyard project expected to create 3,100 jobs. It will build Virginia-class submarine components for Newport News Shipbuilding and could bolster Virginia’s defense supply chain. Regional Growth: Rocket Lab plans to expand operations at Wallops, adding to investment activity on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Defense & Manufacturing: President Trump and Anduril say a $6.6B Arsenal-2 shipyard at Sparrows Point, Maryland will build Virginia-class submarine components, with up to 3,100 jobs and production targeted for 2030—an effort tied to a $2.9B Navy contract. Local Business & Growth: Roanoke’s RoVa Labs biotech incubator is adding federal support, winning a $1M SBA grant for lab equipment as the city says the facility has grown to nine tenants. Data Centers & Local Control: Lee County supervisors reviewed next steps for a data center ordinance after public pushback and a prior moratorium; separately, Carroll County rejected a data-center authority agreement tied to a planned Wildwood Commerce Park project. Healthcare Services: Virginia Family Chiropractic & Physical Medicine promoted workplace injury rehab and non-surgical options (shockwave therapy and spinal decompression) across Northern Virginia offices. Community & Economy: Richmond’s EDA told the Flying Squirrels to clear out The Diamond or face trespassing, escalating a dispute over the stadium relationship. Business Briefs: Osmow’s marks 25 years and 250 locations; Zoom Room reports double-digit same-store sales growth after a relaunch.

Dominion-NextEra Merger Fight: Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi says she’s “at a breaking point” on energy costs and directly opposes the proposed Dominion-NextEra deal, urging the State Corporation Commission to scrutinize ratepayer impacts as its Jan. 11 decision deadline nears. Energy Affordability Funding: Google is committing $10 million in Virginia for home repairs, weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades, including $9.5 million to VACAP and $500,000 for workforce development via FLIPP. Defense Manufacturing Push: Anduril plans a $3.7 billion shipyard at Tradepoint Atlantic in Maryland to build Virginia-class submarine components, with thousands of jobs tied to the project and a potential $6.6 billion total contract value. Broadband Upgrade: Shentel finished a fiber-to-the-home upgrade in Buchanan, expanding gigabit-capable service to about 1,000 homes and businesses. AI in Business: A panel at RISMedia warned real estate brokerages not to treat AI as a shortcut, stressing agent competency and data/consumer trust risks. Workplace Spotlight: Pinnacle Financial Partners ranked No. 3 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance list for large companies. Local Business News: Pro-Flo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning launched a new website for customers across Southside Virginia and Northern North Carolina.

Data Centers & Power Crunch: Virginia regulators allege repeated unpermitted sediment runoff from Google’s “Project Peanut” data center site in Chesterfield, raising fresh environmental scrutiny as the industry’s growth collides with local impacts. Downtown Business Survival: Steam heat is nearing shutoff in downtown Virginia, and about 21 properties still need heating conversions; an emergency $1.8M grant proposal would help businesses avoid closures. Healthcare & Medicaid: Valley Health clinicians are urging transparency after SCP Health (Onex) took over staffing, warning ER staffing cuts may conflict with promises. Insurance/Medicare Dispute: Sentara says it’s ending negotiations with Anthem for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and ACA Exchange reimbursement, affecting about 215,000 Hampton Roads members. Retail & Jobs: Ikea will close three smaller Plan & Order stores in the D.C./MD/VA region, while MasterBrand Cabinets plans 391 layoffs tied to shutting down operations at its Kinston plant. AI & Legal/Policy: DOJ and Google spar in a Virginia federal court filing over timing and compliance monitoring for ad-tech changes. Consumer Watch: A consumer-confidence drop to a 12-year low is pushing shoppers toward tighter budgets and fewer big purchases.

Workforce & economic development: Virginia’s Talent Accelerator Program was ranked No. 1 in the nation for workforce training in Area Development’s 2026 “Top States for Doing Business,” with the program credited for more than 22,000 announced jobs since 2019. Energy & cost pressure: A nonpartisan think tank says federal policy shifts since President Trump returned could push U.S. household energy bills up by about $6,500 on average through 2040, with Virginia among the states facing roughly $9,000 more. Transportation: VDOT released an updated Official State Transportation Map, available free in print and online, and urged fall drivers to watch for deer, wet leaves and check vehicle lights and tires. Local government & public trust: Chesterfield police launched an internal affairs review after an employee was charged with misusing Flock automatic license plate recognition data. Tech & infrastructure debate: A new report highlights how data center scrutiny is growing nationwide—especially around power and water—even as construction continues. Business growth: Portsmouth-based BolenBliss.com, a multicultural wedding vendor directory, topped 10,000 active vendor placements. Healthcare innovation: Experts say photon-counting CT is improving cardiac imaging and could expand access for patients previously hard to scan.

Data Centers vs. the Grid: PJM, which runs the power system serving Virginia’s data-center corridor, suspended a major “backstop” power auction after FERC ordered it to redo plans to cover a 6.8-gigawatt shortfall—pushing key timelines further out. Virginia Politics: In Virginia’s 1st District, Rep. Rob Wittman faces a tighter-than-expected reelection fight against Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor; UVA shifted the race to a toss-up. Local Business & Jobs: NFIB’s September report shows small-business hiring cooling in Virginia, with more owners reporting difficulty finding qualified workers and fewer actively hiring. Fraud & Courts: Three people were sentenced in a multi-state bank fraud scheme that included attempts in Virginia, using stolen identities and counterfeit “washed” checks. Defense & Industry: Jim Cramer highlighted BWX Technologies after a pullback, pointing to its role in naval nuclear reactors and a bullish long-term outlook. Community Watch: Pulaski County officials discussed a 1% sales tax referendum as a homecoming parade was canceled over social-media threats.

Virginia Energy Policy: Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveiled Virginia’s 2026 Energy Plan, aiming to balance affordability and reliability while advancing Clean Economy Act goals as demand grows. Local Housing Relief: Newport News launched the $300,000 ResidentFirst Housing Relief Grant, offering income-restricted credits toward qualifying homeowners’ June 2027 property tax bills. Affordable Construction Innovation: Richmond Habitat for Humanity demonstrated mobile 3D-printed wall technology for an Eastern Henrico affordable housing project, backed by a $1.1 million Virginia Housing innovation grant. Workforce Pipeline: Shenandoah University in Winchester rolled out an air traffic control certificate designed to feed students into FAA-approved evaluation and jobs quickly. Data Center Politics: Prince William County moved data center approvals from “by right” zoning to case-by-case, public review—setting up a new template for Northern Virginia’s power-and-cost debates. Public Safety: Fairfax County police said a 13-year-old was driving when a vehicle hit a power pole in Springfield, closing a ramp for repairs. Food Safety: Trader Joe’s expanded a frozen berry recall in Virginia and other states due to potential E. coli contamination.

Virginia Business & Economy: Gov. Abigail Spanberger marked Virginia Wine Month by highlighting federal disaster aid for vineyards hit by spring frost and summer drought, noting the industry’s $1.7B annual economic impact. Economic Development: Wilson Pipe & Fabrication plans a $3.5M Norfolk expansion, aiming to add 15 advanced manufacturing jobs and apprenticeship roles supported by the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Infrastructure & Local Growth: Virginia Beach residents celebrated completion of the Winston-Salem Avenue project in Shadowlawn, touting wider sidewalks, better stormwater drainage, and safer walking/biking links between the resort and marina districts. Business & Labor: Norfolk pipe system fabricator Wilson Pipe is expanding to meet rising government and commercial demand. Public Policy & Tech: A Virginia-focused editorial argues Gov. Spanberger’s data center plan offers a pathway for the commonwealth as residents and localities weigh growth against resource strain. Community & Culture: Hampton Roads students raised funds for an Operation Smile leadership conference in Thailand, with scholarships helping cover the trip costs.

Energy & Utilities: Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy are pitching very different dividend paths as their proposed merger heads through regulatory review, with investors weighing yield versus growth. Data Centers & Power: Amazon is promising $1 billion for communities hosting its U.S. data centers, but critics are pushing back as power demand and local impacts intensify. Local Governance & Water: Opposition is growing to a proposed Amazon-linked data center plan in Indiana that would use Kankakee River water for cooling, raising downstream water concerns. Business & Jobs: Kings Food Markets will close two New Jersey stores and cut 122 jobs, a reminder of pressure on upscale grocery operators. Public Safety: Loudoun County is investigating an alleged assault by an elementary school teacher after a student was reportedly hit. Politics & Immigration: The Trump administration still hasn’t decided the fate of Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans, leaving about 170,000 people in limbo. Community & Education: A new scholarship fund through the Beckley Area Foundation will support a Virginia Tech engineering student.

Data Centers & Power Crunch: Amazon says it will invest $1B over five years in communities hosting its U.S. data centers, as residents and local governments push back over electricity, water use, and environmental impacts. AI Governance: South Africa’s communications ministry is revising an AI policy after a prior draft was found to be AI-generated with hallucinated citations—another reminder that AI rules are still catching up. Virginia Energy & Utilities: The State Corporation Commission is reviewing Dominion–NextEra’s $67B merger, with public comment open through Nov. 9 and evidentiary hearings starting Nov. 17. Local Defense Industry: Northrop Grumman’s Waynesboro plant cleared a key step with a Virginia DEQ operating air permit, though emissions concerns remain part of the public record. Workforce & Healthcare Leadership: VNA Health named Sena Woodall its new COO, continuing leadership momentum at the nonprofit home health and hospice provider. Community & Infrastructure: Orange Mound in Memphis launched a free high-speed internet expansion through the city’s Connecting 901 initiative, using public sites as anchor access points.

Data Center Backlash Meets Pitch for Trust: Amazon Web Services pledged more than $1B over five years for community college, trades training, and home/school energy upgrades tied to its data centers, while also promising annual reporting on energy and water use and saying it will stop using nondisclosure agreements with government agencies. Local Planning Fight: Swepsonville’s Town Council held a public commentary session on the Virginia Mills property, with residents pressing to keep the site within town control and raising concerns about how the project reflects community needs. Grid Capacity Push: The federal SPARK program will fund 31 reconductoring projects in 26 states to double transmission capacity on existing lines—aimed at easing AI-driven demand without new land fights. Industrial Layoffs: Packaging Corp. of America plans to close its Middletown plant, affecting just over 90 workers. Business/Legal Watch: Hopewell filed a $40M lawsuit over alleged wastewater treatment cost-sharing disputes with AdvanSix, WestRock and Ashland. Retail Expansion: Spirit Christmas said it will open 43 locations in 15 states, including two in Virginia, as it ramps up for the holiday season. Tech & Governance: A new client alert highlights growing pressure for AI governance as states keep writing rules without a single federal framework.

Energy Policy: Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveiled Virginia’s 2026 Energy Plan, aiming for reliable, affordable power while keeping the state on track for net-zero by 2050; Sen. Mark Obenshain criticized it as too costly, saying it could add $127 billion through 2050. Data Centers & Bills: A think tank says federal policy shifts could push U.S. households to pay about $6,500 more for energy through 2040, with Virginia among the hardest-hit states. Utility Financing: Virginia regulators approved Dominion Energy bond financing to recover about $932 million in deferred fuel costs, adding a separate charge to customer bills. AI Hardware Finance: Amazon is reportedly exploring a deal to move about $8 billion in Nvidia AI chips into an investor-backed financing vehicle, including chips installed in Virginia data centers. Local Growth: Prince William County cut the ribbon on a new Occoquan Elementary School, a net-zero campus built with geothermal HVAC and solar power. Business Moves: Fraxion acquired Norfolk’s Yellow Dog Software to connect purchasing with inventory and sales tracking. Defense Tech: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans for an Autonomous Warfare Command (AutoWarCom) to speed adoption of drones and robotic systems. Transportation: VDOT scheduled an I-81 southbound lane closure near Strasburg for pavement work this weekend.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s new Virginia energy plan would require utilities to share fuel costs that run past forecasts and push data centers to cover the extra generation, transmission and distribution costs they create, while also requiring large facilities to show they can cut demand during grid emergencies. Capitol Hill Fight: The Senate left major AI and data-center electricity bills unresolved, including blocking the Ratepayer Protection Act that would have pushed “large-load” customers to shoulder grid upgrade costs. Local Elections: In Shenandoah County, voters head to Nov. 3 town races in Edinburg, Mount Jackson, New Market, Strasburg and Woodstock, with early voting running through Oct. 31. Community & Health: Northern Virginia Food Rescue is partnering with Sentara Health to expand its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste work in the Greater Prince William region. Infrastructure Updates: Ocean Pines is moving ahead with about $260,000 in drainage repairs, using cured-in-place pipe lining to rehabilitate aging stormwater lines. Workforce & Education: Sweet Briar College launched a Center for Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, aiming to boost local talent pipelines. Energy Deal Watch: Amazon signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation for Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant, underscoring the growing pull of carbon-free generation for data-heavy operations.

Defense & Tech: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled a new Pentagon “Autonomous Warfare Command” and launched “Project Meridian,” a 120-day effort co-led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich to map future battlefield capabilities, with an unclassified public report due after the study. AI Data Centers & Manufacturing: LG Electronics will invest $110M (150 billion won) to build a Windsor, Va., chiller plant and expand production in South Korea, targeting air-cooled chillers for AI data centers starting in the first half of 2027. Energy & Risk: A George Mason University study warns a major solar storm could trigger a “blackout arc” across 22 states, affecting more than 5 million people, including parts of Virginia. Local Business & Infrastructure: Chatham issued a boil-water advisory after a water main break affected four Pittsylvania County schools. Business & Community: Main Line Mahjong launched the nation’s first mahjong studio franchise program, aiming to scale in-person instruction and community leagues. Cybersecurity: A Pentagon personnel database breach exposed personal information for 2.76 million living people and 294,000 deceased people.

Data Centers & Local Control: Loudoun residents pressed county officials over Amazon’s resubmitted plan for the former George Washington University campus, raising concerns about water, air quality, diesel generators, property values and property impacts from a potential data center complex. Environmental Compliance: Henrico County is set for a DEQ public hearing Oct. 28 on a draft stormwater permit for Richmond International Airport, tied to ongoing stormwater discharges into local waterways and PFAS-linked firefighting foam history. Defense & Shipbuilding: HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding began the refueling and complex overhaul of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), a major mid-life maintenance effort expected to keep the carrier mission-ready for decades. Business Expansion (Virginia): Fraxion acquired Norfolk-based Yellow Dog Software to expand from procure-to-pay into inventory management for hospitality, sports, food and beverage, and retail. Banking & Credit: OCC conditionally approved Mission Lane for the first CEBA credit card bank charter in 20 years, pending FDIC deposit insurance. Public Safety: Manassas police say three people were critically injured in a workplace shooting at United Rentals; the suspect fled and remains at large. Housing Innovation: Henrico partners broke ground on five 3D-printed Habitat for Humanity homes using a Virginia Housing/Virginia Tech-backed mobile 3D concrete printer. Healthcare Policy: A new analysis suggests stricter Medicaid prior authorization for GLP-1 obesity coverage may shift some prescriptions away from diabetes-labeled versions.

Data Centers & Local Power Strain: Henrico County has tightened rules for new data centers, ending by-right development after a June 2025 zoning change and leaving only vested projects moving forward, while residents and officials elsewhere keep pushing for limits as AI demand stresses grids and water systems. Policy & Health Costs: U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced a bill aimed at improving specialty pharmacy reimbursement data to lower prescription costs, targeting PBM-related pricing gaps. Immigration & Labor: Two Virginia lawmakers backed legislation to let certain H-1B and other visa holders renew visas inside the U.S., reducing disruptions from overseas appointment delays. Trade Enforcement: U.S. Customs seized nearly $856,000 in counterfeit and unsafe goods in Norfolk, including fake certification-mark sinks and rugs failing flammability standards. Virginia Business Growth: Avio USA broke ground on a $500 million solid rocket motor manufacturing facility in Pittsylvania County, projecting 1,500+ jobs. Community & Culture: A second-generation Richmond pizzeria owner shared how menu innovation and family values helped keep the business thriving.