Author: Cheyenne Courtney

Regional initiative will strengthen the pipeline of development-ready sites and improve competitiveness for business investment 

Virginia’s Innovation Crossroads Alliance (VICA), in partnership with the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, is moving forward with a GO Virginia grant-funded initiative to strengthen the region’s inventory of development-ready industrial and commercial sites. 

Supported through GO Virginia Region 6, the project will create a coordinated pipeline of sites and provide local and regional economic development partners with the information needed to identify and advance properties with the greatest potential for business investment. 

Approximately 20 candidate sites or site areas will be evaluated. The project will standardize site information, verify site-readiness tiers, update VirginiaScan listings, identify development gaps, and establish roadmaps for advancing priority properties toward Tier 4, or pad-ready, status. The work will result in a ranked regional site pipeline and implementation playbook outlining recommended next steps. 

Strengthening the Region’s Competitive Position 

Site readiness is increasingly important in economic development. Companies considering new facilities and expansions need reliable information about available land, infrastructure, utilities, zoning, environmental conditions, and development timelines. Communities that can provide this information and demonstrate a clear path to development are better positioned to compete for projects, investment, and jobs. 

The initiative will support several of GO Virginia Region 6’s targeted industry clusters, including manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Sites will be evaluated based on their ability to meet the location requirements of these industries. 

The project will also update the region’s previous site inventory work, last completed in 2019, incorporating changes in zoning, utilities, ownership, environmental constraints, and emerging industry needs. 

Creating a Path to Future Investment 

Beyond identifying available properties, the project will determine what is needed to make priority sites more competitive. The resulting due diligence roadmaps will help localities and regional partners target future infrastructure and site-development investments while positioning priority properties for potential future funding through GO Virginia and the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP). 

The initiative will also complement regional economic development efforts associated with aerospace and defense, life science technologies, and advanced materials, helping to support technology commercialization and future business growth. 

Upon completion, the region will have a more current and actionable inventory of industrial and commercial sites and a clear strategy for advancing those with the greatest potential to attract investment and create jobs. 

About GO Virginia 

GO Virginia is a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries GO Virginia Region 6 encompasses the Fredericksburg, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula areas. 

About Virginia’s Innovation Crossroads Alliance 

The GO Virginia Region 6 Council recently announced the award of $2,476,285 in Growth and Opportunity funds allocated for three new collaborative projects aimed at strengthening the region’s economy, advancing workforce development, and fostering innovation across key industry sectors. GO Virginia Region 6 includes the Fredericksburg Region, Northern Neck, and the Middle Peninsula. These projects bring together local governments, higher education institutions, and private industry leaders to create sustainable economic opportunities throughout the region.

“This latest round of funding reflects our continued commitment to building a more competitive and resilient regional economy,” said John Anzivino, Chair of the GO Virginia Region 6 Council. “By investing in collaborative, high-impact projects, we are helping position all of Region 6 for long-term growth and success in alignment with our Board approved Growth and Diversification Plan.”

Among the funded initiatives are programs focused on workforce training in high-demand sectors which include information technology, AI, advanced manufacturing, data centers, distribution/logistics, and professional services. Each project was selected based on its potential to generate economic impact, create jobs, and leverage matching funds from public and private partners.

Extended Workforce Pathways with Stafford and Caroline County Schools | Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford County Public Schools has been awarded $965,601 from Region 6’s Per Capita allocations for their Extended Workforce Pathways with Stafford and Caroline Counties project to expand career and technical education pathways across the Career Centers in Stafford County and the Academies of Caroline in Caroline County. These pathways will help prepare students for high-demand industries including data centers, logistics, energy, and information technology. The initiative will introduce new programs, align curriculum

with industry-recognized credentials, and provide opportunities for dual enrollment and direct workforce entry. Through regional collaboration between the two school divisions, the project will build a scalable model for workforce development and student success.

AI Mobile Unit for Workforce & Education | Cyber Bytes Foundation

Cyber Bytes Foundation, in partnership with the Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW, has been awarded $1,079,109 for an AI Mobile Unit to deliver hands-on instruction to students, teachers, and incumbent workers. The AI Mobile Unit will expand access to artificial intelligence training and certification across rural and underserved communities through mobile learning labs. The program will create dual enrollment opportunities and industry-recognized credential pathways. This approach ensured broader access to emerging technology skills and strengths in Region 6’s workforce readiness.

This project is a cross-regional project in partnership with GO Virginia Region 9. Participating localities include King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Nelson, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties.

CNC Machining Program | Rappahannock Community College

Rappahannock Community College has been awarded $431,575 for the CNC Machining program which will expand workforce training capacity in advanced manufacturing. The program will develop a hands-on program aligned with regional employer demand in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. The initiative will help address critical workforce gaps and support the growth of manufacturing employers across the region.

The project was in partnership with Lancaster County EDA and the Bay Consortium Workforce Development CARES program, as well as Turn Dynamics and other area employers.

Participating localities include the Counties of Gloucester, King and Queen, Lancaster, Middlesex, and Northumberland as well as the Town of West Point.

William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS have been awarded a planning grant from GO Virginia Region 6 to help position Virginia as a national leader not only in shellfish production, but in shellfish aquaculture innovation.

GO Virginia is a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries. The GO Virginia Region 6 award totals more than $80,000 and will support a multi-partner planning initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s shellfish aquaculture industry by identifying new opportunities in gear design, aquaculture technology and business development.

While Virginia currently leads the nation in farmed oyster and clam production — supporting more than 700 jobs and generating over $81 million annually at the farm gate — the industry remains heavily reliant on foreign-designed gear and technologies. The new initiative seeks to reverse that trend by laying the groundwork for a homegrown aquaculture innovation ecosystem in coastal Virginia.

Led by the Batten School & VIMS, the project will bring together shellfish growers, researchers, technology developers, local governments and economic development organizations to assess industry needs and identify high-impact innovation opportunities. Planned activities include stakeholder workshops, site visits with Virginia growers and innovators and a fact-finding trip to Maine to examine successful models for aquaculture technology development and commercialization.

“Virginia’s shellfish aquaculture industry is already a national success story,” said Professor Bill Walton, coordinator of the Shellfish Aquaculture Program at the Batten School & VIMS. “This planning effort is about building on that strength and helping Virginia design, test and manufacture the next generation of aquaculture technologies while creating new jobs and business opportunities in the process.”

Key partners on the project include regional economic development organizations and shellfish industry representatives from across GO Virginia Regions 6 and 5, along with Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Sea Grant. Local government partners include Gloucester County, Lancaster County, and the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, all of which will play active roles in guiding the planning process.

The initiative aligns closely with GO Virginia’s priorities for economic growth, regional collaboration, and advancement of high-potential industry clusters, including the Blue Economy and marine technology sectors. By focusing on innovation capacity, startup support, and industry scale-up, the planning effort aims to catalyze value-added manufacturing and high-wage jobs tied to aquaculture gear production, engineering and related services.

The project will culminate in a final report outlining opportunities, challenges, and recommended next steps, including the feasibility of a future statewide GO Virginia implementation grant. If pursued, that next phase would seek to establish Regions 6 and 5 as a nationally recognized hub for shellfish aquaculture innovation.