Marquee Moments

In a year defined by vision and momentum, the EDA curated opportunities, collaborated across public and private sectors, and created conditions for transformative progress – advancing major projects that will shape Newport News’ economic landscape for decades to come.

Among the year’s most impactful achievements was the inaugural Newport News Economic Development Growth and Expansion (NN EDGE) Summit, where developers and thought leaders from across the nation, state and region gathered to engage with the City’s most promising, strategic development opportunities. By curating 12 priority development sites and inviting direct dialogue with City and EDA leadership, the NN EDGE Summit demonstrated how intentional collaboration can convert vision into action. The connections built with more than 200 attendees during this event laid the foundation for major investment and partnerships as these sites are marketed.

The featured sites range from large-scale commercial parcels to redevelopment opportunities, including the Chase Site, City Center Expansion Area, Denbigh-Warwick Site. Each represents a catalyst for growth that will drive long-term impact across the City and strengthen neighborhoods, expand economic opportunity and quality of life.

That positive momentum continued Downtown with the announcement of a transformative $400 million investment by the U.S. Navy to develop new housing for unaccompanied Sailors stationed at Newport News Shipbuilding. Spanning 29th to 32nd Street between Huntington Avenue and Warwick Boulevard, the multi-phase project will deliver 750 new two-bedroom units housed in two iconic residential towers, along with 30,000 square feet of space for Navy services and 10,000 square feet of retail serving both Sailors and the broader Downtown community.

This landmark investment reinforces the continued resurgence of Downtown and was prominently featured during site tours at the NN EDGE Summit. It also exemplifies the strength of public-private partnership, specifically the successful collaboration between the Navy and Hunt Military Communities, and reflects the EDA’s commitment to creating vibrant, mixed-use environments where people can live, work, and thrive.

As the City continued to strengthen its urban centers, the EDA partnered with regional stakeholders to elevate the future of flight and unlock the full potential of the Newport News–Williamsburg Airport. Building on prior aviation diversification efforts, the airport achieved “Key Site” designation, recognizing it as a hub for uncrewed systems development and Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) training.

Orienting the airport (PHF) as a competitive hub for next generation aviation activity not only accelerates innovation in these uncrewed systems, it supports integration with manned aviation, and will attract new investment to Virginia’s growing aviation
and aerospace cluster anchored here in our community.

The theme of innovation continues across the industrial sector as Innovated Machine & Tool Co., Inc. completed a major expansion in Oakland Industrial Park which included a 30,000-square-foot addition, advanced equipment upgrades, and creation of 25 new jobs. This is the kind of manufacturing growth the EDA works to cultivate. As a leading sheet metal fabricator, their expanded space both strengthens local industry while supporting global supply chain demands and enhanced production capacity. This growth demonstrates how curated investment and coordinated support can help Newport News companies scale, compete, and create new opportunities for residents and their organizations.

Also marking a significant achievement this year was the successful rezoning of the 283-acre Endview property, clearing the way for Parkside at Endview – a 620-unit residential development in partnership with D.R. Horton. Located on one of the City’s last remaining greenfield sites, this new community will help increase housing availability while enhancing quality of life. With design in progress and groundbreaking planned for 2026, this effort illustrates how coordinated action and shared vision can shape the future of Newport News neighborhoods.

Together, these moments highlight a year defined by strategic action, meaningful moves, and an unwavering focus on shaping a prosperous future for Newport News.