[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6161243,"mediaKeyId","5442369-2314017319e92aabe02eddbfb02855f7","parentId",5442369,"title","Defense roundtable flags ship-repair losses and pushes regional workforce training","audioSeconds",546,"startMs",404175,"endMs",950370,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442369-2314017319e92aabe02eddbfb02855f7&start=404&end=950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442369-2314017319e92aabe02eddbfb02855f7/thumbnail_404175.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161243/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Defense-roundtable-flags-ship-repair-losses-and-pushes-regional-workforce-training","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161243-eedbc6aba0c2cbfe3cc2d0be1608aa37/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393983&Signature=iOWA4oRxQSnw~ZSOsdX6wG-EaB2Lo8DRIfHHeA8i-LZq-~fSj52l2~KycMP0clMYwbItsaGPM1DPQE2UNYycLiR1IXIgnCphybR6eURhBhQsS8RyvaPvIc-J6vcbEvfGQVFFmQbHUg7nSMmB8P4NT5U3UV99LjOdl3ZzcPanp2W-BDc3xFCuuwMcCJEv2UaNGmNUCFce6DUpkcl5813eixfbf2dJFRbtc3pHC3c2PyeYL-yktL2ToVnuLpILPxSgol0J-8VUbipRSKQCBMfq9eVtN5avicy7gmCLOxo~swJUTIeEvMCsyeVHNfuREfECOmKloPfMYruvEySGVmPPgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Portsmouth","date","2025-07-23T01:32:54.333Z","article","Commission staff briefed the Portsmouth Port Industrial Commission on a June 25 defense industry roundtable that brought together regional ship-repair companies, contractors and workforce partners and highlighted concerns about lost ship-repair work and the need to expand local training programs.

Sunny Belston, who coordinated the roundtable, reported that 20 participants attended and that businesses represented included Mills Marine, Crofton, Fairlead, Collins Marine, GI Industrial, NAVCO Norfolk, General Dynamics and Structural Mechanical. Belston said the Rhodes Alliance presented a playbook for how the industry could organize regionally.

Belston said participants discussed growth and contracting opportunities, crime concerns and improving relationships with local military installations; the Portsmouth police chief attended to address public-safety questions. No formal action was taken at the PPIC on the roundtable report.

A recurring concern relayed from the roundtable was that the Navy’s shifting ship home-porting and deployment patterns have reduced available repair work for local private ship-repair yards. Belston summarized industry remarks and commissioners discussed a request from the Virginia Ship Repair Association to change a procurement window in federal contracting rules from 12 months to 18 months to limit coast-wide bidding for long repairs and keep work in the region.

A commissioner who identified himself as Mr. Carter discussed workforce development and regional training partnerships, saying local institutions are exploring expanded programs linking Old Dominion University, regional community colleges and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council to accelerate training for defense manufacturing and maritime trades. Carter said the region has funds available to build capacity at the middle- and high-school levels but noted enrollment outreach remains a challenge; he added that he had been invited to sit on a regional maintenance training board.

Carter also summarized industry concern about fleet size, saying, “the navy ship count in Norfolk in Portsmouth in Norfolk is the lowest it's been in the history of the world,” and he urged attention to the procurement-window change to help retain regional repair work. The transcript attributes the quoted language to Mr. Carter.

Commission staff distributed a handout from the roundtable and said they will continue to work with regional partners on workforce training and business engagement. The discussion was reported as informational; commissioners did not vote on policy changes or funding at the July 22 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission Meeting PPIC July 22, 2025 Portsmouth Virginia","oneSentenceSummary","At a July 22 PPIC meeting, staff reported on a June 25 DoD industry roundtable in which regional ship repair firms raised concerns about lost business and participants discussed expanding maritime and maintenance training across Hampton Roads.","taxTitle","Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia","taxId",4040,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6161247,"Portsmouth commission reviews cruise docking agreement, development sites and defense grant opportunities",171,91900,263835,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442369-2314017319e92aabe02eddbfb02855f7&start=91&end=263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442369-2314017319e92aabe02eddbfb02855f7/thumbnail_91900.jpg","/articles/6161247/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Portsmouth-commission-reviews-cruise-docking-agreement-development-sites-and-defense-grant-opportunities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161247-6966ab1d129a005e9845119f45a85fe9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393983&Signature=AzFgNy3EC0mt7JRl41saWVmfNgFlzayr91VXVAzWjK-hlOLTpZyfVxeHtPULaWdCGgY7F2kyVvnr41WPWd-KLNfydXmHjqqJy6FJveVA933j58~SrGBUrfqTZsLR4xYjHH2BVMuGjrgWFQa16X6lPeOaC92j-RJ0aB7ryxpNKPHfdIrkC7R27nMcPzJ7kqTGWswnq1F-OfvOYkZBEYOizSGdQv-klIGYa2RD7KXXngj5QWN-9feRYHu-C2iHaMPHixhYoa9DASY4C5p9vRK0fpt9sEGeOJRueSBlYR7Rv5ebReIkGP2v2o1sHHSloyrS4iZAOx-a-Mfb6gNGx9n8lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth Port Industrial Commission reviewed potential port development deals and federal grant opportunities during its July 22, 2025, meeting in Portsmouth.

Commission staff briefed commissioners on several business-development items, including a docking agreement submitted by American Cruise Lines that staff said is “under review” to confirm infrastructure and long-term booking terms. Bridal, a commission staff member, said the commission is \"in receipt of a docking agreement, which was provided by ACL,\" and staff is assessing seawall infrastructure, water supply needs and projected costs.

The commission also flagged several prioritized development sites. Bridal said Burton's Point Road remains a priority and that staff is marketing the properties identified in the briefing as “0 Sixth Street” and “1603 Seventh.” Stedmont Financial Group representatives were noted as present for later closed-session negotiations.

Commissioners discussed engagement with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Southgate Annex, with Bridal saying the commission is \"waiting on the chain of command to be completed so we can engage with the new leadership of the shipyard.\" The commission also confirmed preexisting plans to have a representative attend the Virginia Port Authority meeting on July 29 in Norfolk; Commissioner Richard Foster volunteered to attend.

In new business the commission discussed the city’s failure to submit a Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) application this year. A city official who identified himself as Mr. Carter said submissions rest with city administration and acknowledged he was not aware a submission had been missed; he suggested the PPIC may propose candidate projects to the city manager for future DCIP consideration. Bridal and other commissioners noted examples of projects that have previously fit DCIP parameters, such as roadway and utility work serving military facilities.

Near the end of the meeting the commission voted unanimously to move into closed session. The motion cited Virginia law authorizing closed sessions for discussion of the investment of public funds and negotiation of real property. The motion specified discussion items as the FY 2022 Port Coast Community Grant and the disposition or negotiation of real property at 3920 and 3930 Birch Orchard Point Road. The motion to enter closed session passed on a roll-call vote of 5–0 (Commissioner Foster, Commissioner McSwain, Commissioner Rice, Commissioner Peterman and Commissioner Allen — Commissioner Hansen and one seat absent). After the closed session, commissioners certified that only matters exempted by law were discussed; that certification passed on a roll-call vote with all present voting yes.

Procedural actions taken in open session included approval of the June 24, 2025, meeting minutes (approved by roll-call vote 5–0) and establishing the PPIC’s annual meeting for August 26, 2025 (approved by roll-call vote 5–0).

Staff indicated follow-up steps: continuing to review the ACL docking agreement, obtaining pricing for projected infrastructure work, marketing prioritized properties for development and coordinating with city staff on potential DCIP project submissions. No ordinance or contract awards were approved in open session.

The commission adjourned and said it will reconvene in August to continue work on the items described above.","At its July 22 meeting, the Portsmouth Port Industrial Commission reviewed a docking agreement from American Cruise Lines, discussed prioritized development sites including Burton's Point Road, and raised missed federal defense grant submissions while voting to enter closed session over grant- and property-related negotiations.","actionData","errors"]

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Defense roundtable flags ship-repair losses and pushes regional workforce training

Portsmouth commission reviews cruise docking agreement, development sites and defense grant opportunities