Albemarle seeks state support to make first 50 acres of Rivanna Station 'pad ready'

Albemarle County officials asked the General Assembly to fund initial site‑readiness work at Rivanna Station, a proposed regional innovation campus. Emily Kilroy, the county’s director of economic development, told the local delegation the county has scoped a Phase 1 package — roughly the first 50 acres and six development blocks — and has identified more than $11,000,000 of necessary engineering, grading, utilities and road work to make those parcels “pad ready.”

Kilroy said the county is pursuing state and federal grants to supplement county investment and emphasized the project's regional significance for national security and innovation. “As we continue to refine our estimates, we’re able to substantiate more than $11,000,000 worth of effort to bring this to the next level of site readiness,” Kilroy said. David Blunt, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission’s legislative liaison, added the region is positioning the site to attract Department of Defense and federal partners. The county requested the General Assembly consider a state budget amendment to support the Phase 1 work while staff continue to seek competitive grants.