City officials said weather conditions are affecting staffing and operations, with some businesses able to open if employees live within walking distance. Others have chosen to close for the day due to road and safety concerns.
Business
“Repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law could lower the state’s economic output by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade,” The Center Square reported. “The report, prepared by Mangum Economics and commissioned by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, projects that Virginia’s gross state product would be about $36.8 billion lower over 10 years if the law were repealed.”
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Prince William Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert “Bob” Sweeney is departing the organization after the completion of a leadership investigation that sources say raised concerns about workplace culture, staff treatment, and organizational risk.
Neither Sweeney nor the Chamber responded to requests for comment about the investigation or its findings.
“We are also pleased to welcome Ryan VanderWijst, Chief Financial Officer of SimVentions, as our 2026 Vice Chair of the Board,” the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce stated. “Ryan’s financial expertise and leadership will be a tremendous asset to the Chamber and our members.”
The Chamber also announced new board members for 2026, including Cyndi Mack of Universal Dynamics, Pete Humes of Atlantic Union Bank, and Brian Shanle of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. Chamber officials said the board will help guide the organization and support the region’s business community in the coming year.
The owner of Shining Sol Candle Company says he plans to close the company’s Old Town Manassas storefront later this month, ending a nearly 10-year run on Center Street while keeping the business alive online and at its Myrtle Beach location.
Founder Pete Evick, a Manassas native and longtime guitarist for Bret Michaels, announced the decision during a nearly 40-minute livestream in which he described mounting personal debt, burnout, and the ongoing financial strain of operating a staffed brick-and-mortar store.
“Buc-ees has asked the Stafford Planning Commission to defer holding a second public hearing on its proposed project at the intersection of Courthouse Road and Austin Ridge Drive in the Garrisonville district,” FXBG Advance reported. “The Planning Commission in October voted to defer making a recommendation on the project to its January 14 meeting, but the company has indicated that it needs more time,” county planning staff said in a January 5 email to community members.
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Stephen G. Sheetz, former president, CEO, and chairman of Sheetz, Inc., has died at age 77. The company announced his passing on Thursday, remembering him as a visionary leader who helped shape the Altoona-based convenience store chain into a regional powerhouse.
Sheetz began working at the family business at just 12 years old, eventually helping grow the company from four stores to over 100 by the early 1980s. He served as president and CEO from 1984 to 1995, overseeing a period of rapid expansion and innovation, including the launch of Sheetz’s Made-to-Order food program and entry into the fuel business.
The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Ginni Matern, Owner and President of Matern Staffing in Spotsylvania, as the 2026 Chair of the Board. Matern brings extensive leadership and business experience to the role and has been a longtime advocate for regional economic growth and workforce development.
The Chamber also announced its 2026 Vice Chair, Treasurer, and several new board members who represent a cross-section of industries across the region.
“Prince William County is an amazing place to work and live, but it faces a significant shortage of flex/tech buildings, limiting its ability to attract and retain growing companies, which fuel job creation, diversify the tax base, and bolster the regional economy,” St. John Properties said. “We look forward to bringing our decades of experience and locally based/vertically integrated approach to make this project a success for all stakeholders.”
“This transaction is about more than just parcels of land,” Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism stated. “It reflects our intentional approach to creating opportunities for companies to expand locally, invest with confidence, and remain in Prince William County as they grow.”
Local economic leaders in Fredericksburg and Prince William County are launching new initiatives to strengthen small businesses and entrepreneurs, reflecting a broader shift toward locally driven networking, education, and collaboration.
In Fredericksburg, the city’s Economic Development Authority announced today the launch of two new quarterly programs — FXBG Local Loop and The Business Pour — designed to support business growth and deepen connections within the local business community.