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Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced more than $10.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for 13 projects focused on expanding talent pipelines in key industries, strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and developing business-ready sites while supporting regional economic growth through localities, public entities and private businesses.

A Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development news release indicated that Southampton County will benefit from one of these 2022 per capita grant awards.

“GO Virginia is a critical tool for spurring innovation and inspiring regional collaboration for economic growth in the private, public and nonprofit sectors,” Youngkin said. “These projects will allow us to expand Virginia’s workforce development opportunities, strengthen our talent pipelines and continue building a commonwealth that works for all Virginians.”

This round of grants includes eight regional projects and five projects through GO Virginia’s Economic Resilience and Recovery Program. In addition, awarded projects will receive an additional $14.1 million in local and non-state resources.

“These innovative projects will allow partners to retain talent in their region, develop their existing workforce and expand upon key industries while diversifying unique regional economies throughout the commonwealth,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said. “GO Virginia provides crucial funding to achieve long-term economic growth and enables localities across Virginia to have the tools they need to thrive.”

“It is always exciting to see the way these projects will impact the growth and diversification of economies in each of these regions,” GO Virginia Board Vice Chairman Todd A. Stottlemyer said. “The hard work of our regional councils and partners to deliver economic impact across the commonwealth is evident.”

Among the grant awards, more than $3.75 million will go to Hampton Roads Economic Development Sites Readiness: Phase II. This project serves Region 5, which includes Southampton County and the city of Chesapeake.

With this money, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission will complete due diligence work recommended by earlier studies for three sites in Region 5, totaling more than 289 acres. Funding will accelerate the development of these sites to Tier 4, assist in promoting the availability of shovel-ready sites to prospective businesses and help create higher paying jobs in the Hampton Roads region.

Since the program’s inception in 2017, GO Virginia has funded 229 projects and awarded approximately $92.5 million to support regional economic development efforts. To learn more about the GO Virginia program, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/gova.