Last week was eventful – one full of celebrations!

CarMax Park Topping Out Ceremony on 40th Anniversary of the Diamond’s First Game

A week after the groundbreaking of the Diamond District Infrastructure, on Thursday, April 17th, the Richmond Flying Squirrels hosted a “topping out” ceremony for CarMax Park, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of The Diamond’s first game on April 17, 1985. During a topping out ceremony, a steel beam is raised and placed at the highest point of the structure. It is a celebration of the progress made in the project, recognizing the hard work and safety of the workers, and looking forward to the next phases of construction.

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Celebration of Business

On Wednesday, April 16th, the City of Richmond and the Richmond Economic Development Authority hosted our Third Annual Celebration of Business at Main Street Station. This event is designed to thank and celebrate all that our vibrant ecosystem of businesses do in order to make our city the best place to live, work and raise a family. Mayor Avula, local businesses, community stakeholders, and City of Richmond leaders filled the space, creating a vibrant atmosphere, full of meaningful conversations and great energy.

A special awards ceremony was held, recognizing four Outstanding Economic Development Partners:

• Haleon – On January 27th, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Haleon, a leading global consumer health company, will invest $54.2 million to upgrade its research and development facility in the City of Richmond. The modernization will enable the company to accommodate innovative technologies and expand its research capabilities. Haleon’s decision to upgrade their space here in Richmond is a vote of confidence in Richmond’s life sciences ecosystem.

• VPM – In August 2024, VPM broke ground on their new 5-story state of the art facility on Broad Street in Monroe Ward, a $65M capital investment. The new development will add new energy to downtown Richmond, with features intentionally designed to engage the community and activate the block.

• The Metropolitan Business League – The MBL administered the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund which provided grants to small businesses significantly impacted by January’s water emergency. There was a total initial investment of $500,000 provided by the EDA, Dominion Energy, and Altria. 117 applicants (nearly 85% of eligible applications) received funds.

• John Molster – John has served on the Economic Development Authority since 2014, becoming chair in 2018. John has led the EDA through key projects supporting Richmond’s growth, including the Westhampton redevelopment, Stone Brewery, CoStar, and affordable housing performance grants, contributing to 2,700 new affordable housing units.

Click here to view and download photos from the event.