There is growing interest from the data center community to look at places outside of Northern Virginia.

The Richmond region and Hampton Roads are marketing themselves as the next big places for data centers to locate, with more available land than Northern Virginia, and connections to three major subsea cables originating in Europe and South America that come ashore in Virginia Beach and connect to the East Coast at QTS Data Centers’ network access point (NAP) in Henrico County

A Virginia Beach-based data center and subsea cable company —along with other tech advocates — spoke before a Virginia House of Delegates committee Monday. They talked about the state’s unique role in the global internet, but also warned about the opportunities they fear the Commonwealth is missing out on.

RVA757 Connects along with Virginians for High Speed Rail, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Greater Washington Partnership, and the New River Valley Passenger Rail release a report that is a comprehensive examination of the current state of passenger rail in Virginia and a roadmap for its expansion and enhancement. This collaborative effort brings together experts, advocates, and community leaders to address the critical need for a more robust and efficient rail system in the Commonwealth.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony in New Kent County on Nov. 13 to mark the start of the Interstate 64 widening from James City County to the Richmond area.

Work is set to begin in November on widening Interstate 64 east of Richmond, with the aim of completing a six-lane superhighway connection to Hampton Roads, said Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen Brich.

Work is set to begin in November on widening Interstate 64 east of Richmond, with the aim of completing a six-lane superhighway connection to Hampton Roads, said Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen Brich.

Business, education and community leaders from Richmond and throughout Hampton Roads gathered on Thursday for the annual Convergence Conference as they prepare for the formation of a megaregion designed to drive economic prosperity into the future. This year’s conference focused on the I-64 Innovation Corridor’s economic outlook as well as the strategic plan for global internet hub designation. Several speakers offered their thoughts on the current state of the economy as well as what it will look like heading into 2024.

Could Hampton Roads and the Richmond area become the next Global Internet Hub? On Tuesday afternoon, Virginia Beach city council members heard about a strategic plan that could transform the area.

"The real opportunity we have is to get to a world stage," said John Martin, the President & CEO of RVA757 Connects, an advocacy group promoting the regions working together to form a mega-region.

LifeNet President and CEO Rony Thomas shared how challenges arise when organizations seek to innovate during an RVA757 Connects webinar on May 3. In addressing the topic of “What Makes Innovation Work,” Thomas said many corporate leaders talk about their personal interest in innovation but often fall short in the execution because they must also embrace renovation.

John Martin, president and CEO of RVA 757 Connects, discusses on WTKR TV station the concept that nearby cities can do well by collaborating together rather than competing.

Aubrey L. Layne Jr. told those attending Convergence 2022 that the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas must act with “a sense of urgency” to collaborate on big initiatives.

James "Jim" E. Ukrop and Dr. Eugene “Gene” P. Trani were recognized by the board of RVA757 Connects for their visionary leadership in the formation of the I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion.

Governor Glenn Youngkin addresses RVA757 Connects

Update: I-64 Gap Project gets funding

Brian Anderson in conversation with RVA757 Connects.

A conversation with Bryan Stephens (President and CEO - Hampton Roads Chamber).

The I-64 Innovation Corridor – an 8,000-square-mile megaregion that runs from Richmond to Hampton Roads – is well on its way to becoming a full-fledged global internet hub.

Momentum has been building in the effort to extend the Birthplace of America Trail (BoAT) / Virginia Capital Trail from Williamsburg to Fort Monroe.

Hear how Bob Blue discusses the electrifying opportunity to make our corridor a manufacturing center for the offshore wind industry.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing a $354 million, four-year contract to accelerate this work. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also an investor, realizing the world-wide potential application for this technology.