Virginia Business Headlines for August: VA co’s. try to avoid being capsized by tariffs Barrel maker to open two plants in SW VA Micron Technology to expand Manassas semiconductor plant Container shipping company to expand North American headquarters in Richmond Aldi's divisional headquarters and distribution center in Dinwiddie County completed Newly minted Richmond ice cream brand inks Wegmans deal Virginia Beach's rapidly growing Mosquito Joe sold to Texas company NoVa dominates Inc. 5000, but D.C. and Maryland have strong showings 28 Richmond area firms make Inc. 5000 list GE confirms previously announced plan to end manufacturing in Salem Richmond private equity firm cashes out on NoVa investment PR firm Padilla acquired by Montreal buyer Bristol Compressors to close Washington County plant, eliminating 470 jobs Hummus-maker spreads out Chesterfield footprint $3 million Boeing donation to help Virginia Tech honors program take flight Virginia Econ/Government Headlines for August: Virginia is preparing for Medicaid expansion on Jan. 1 Combating the opioid crisis With state backing, Port of VA moves ahead with major projects Some Halifax solar projects receive stormy receptions Pulaski County is ready to court international co’s. July unemployment falls in Virginia metro areas Port CEO testifies about potential impacts of tariffs Sea-level rise already affecting Virginia home values Nearly $1 billion in VA exports threatened by tariffs State agency awards $242.4 million IT contract Unemployment rate drops again State is using Volkswagen settlement money to establish electric vehicle charging stations Dominion Energy seeks approval to build offshore wind research project Electric scooters descend on Hampton Roads overnight, surprising city officials Virginia will use $10 million to turn old coal mines into tourist sites, broadband infrastructure Will massive solar project see the light of day? Richmond, Bird meet to discuss scooter regulations New study suggests NoVa is region's best bet for HQ2 Hampton recommends changing zoning law to allow medical cannabis oil production Hemp looks and smells like pot. Soon, fields of the plant could crisscross Virginia Landowners swamped by erosion denied injunction against Mountain Valley Pipeline Hampton medical marijuana dispensary seeks to be first in Virginia Judges vacate two permits for Atlantic Coast Pipeline Virginia horse-racing officials vow to 'get it right' on gambling expansion VIRGINIA BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2018 UNION WEALTH MANAGEMENT | 3900 WESTERRE PKWY, 2 ND FL, RICHMOND, VA 23233 | 804-774-2087 | WWW.BANKATUNION.COM/WEALTH News Headline Sources: Richmond BizSense, Virginia Business Click headline to access article Click headline to access article Virginia Employment by Region July July Change July (in thousands, seasonally adjusted) 2017 2018 (P) % Unemp. Rate (P) Total Virginia Nonfarm Workers 3,954.8 4,017.4 1.6% 3.1% Blacksburg 74.1 74.4 0.4% 3.3% Charlottesville 114.6 119.4 4.2% 2.7% Harrisonburg 65.6 66.4 1.2% 3.0% Kingsport 119.7 121.8 1.8% 4.1% Lynchburg 103.5 104.7 1.2% 3.6% Richmond 673.0 683.7 1.6% 3.1% Roanoke 158.9 160.9 1.3% 3.0% Staunton-Waynesboro 49.6 50.8 2.4% 2.7% Virginia Beach 787.1 795.2 1.0% 3.3% Washington DC metro 2,691.3 2,753.8 2.3% 3.5% Winchester 63.3 65.2 3.0% 2.8% Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (P) Preliminary