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PPIC hears updates on transloading grant, Burton Point remediation, defense coordination and workforce plans
Summary
Staff told the commission that a BUILD grant for an agricultural transloading facility is due today and crane staging and piling are starting on CSX property; STEMA Financial Group extended feasibility on Burton Point Road through April 17 with a $25,000 fee for environmental review; city and shipyard leaders discussed defense-community grant coordination; staff announced a workforce roundtable and staffing changes.
Staff briefed the Portsmouth Industrial Commission on multiple economic-development items on Feb. 24, including a federal BUILD grant submission for an agricultural transloading facility, progress on the Burton Point Road site, defense-community coordination with the shipyard, and workforce and staffing updates.
On the transloading facility project staff said the BUILD grant — a backup to earlier 2025 and 2026 submissions the commission has endorsed — was due to the federal government that day. Crane and equipment had arrived on the CSX property and piling was expected to start immediately.
On 3920–3930 Burton Point Road the purchaser, STEMA Financial Group, executed a feasibility-period extension through April 17, 2026 and paid an additional $25,000 fee to continue environmental review under the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s voluntary remediation program. Staff said they expect closing by the extension date subject to state review timelines.
A council member reported that the city manager and installation commander at Naval Support Activity Norfolk met to discuss collaboration on the Defense Community Infrastructure Program and related milcon projects near the Southgate annex. The shipyard’s infrastructure optimization program (SCOP) may tie up the Southgate property, potentially affecting lease or joint-use options; staff proposed including the PPIC and EDA in future briefings and highlighted two upcoming events for outreach: the Virginia Defense Forum (April 1–2) and the Association of Defense Communities annual meeting (May 11–13).
Brian, a city staffer, said the office will convene a workforce-development roundtable within about 60 days with industry, the public-school system and higher education; Dr. Bracie, the school superintendent, committed to participate. Brian also introduced new business development specialist Maya Keplinger and announced that Autumn Bailey, senior business development specialist, will leave for a Baltimore position in the coming weeks.
No formal actions on these projects were recorded in the open meeting minutes; staff indicated ongoing federal and state processes that could affect timelines and closings.
