SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. – Hundreds of community members, business leaders, and state officials packed into the Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre today to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for Success Space, a new co-working hub offering workspace, business coaching, and a café.

Dr. Fallon Hutcherson and Felicia Minor-Caliste, co-owners of Virginia’s first Success Space, thanked the crowd for their two-and-a-half years of support that helped bring their vision to life. “Even with us, we didn’t do it alone,” they told attendees, acknowledging family, friends, and community members who stood by them throughout the process.

Speakers included the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, which praised the opening as a milestone for entrepreneurship and collaboration in the region. Juan Pablo Segura, Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade, congratulated the owners and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting small businesses. “You’re not alone,” Segura said. “Virginia is here to help with resources like low-interest loans, SWAM certifications, and venture capital investments”.

Christopher Hayes, Ernisha Hall, and representatives from Congressman Eugene Vindman’s office also offered remarks. The event concluded with cheers as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the doors of the 5,300-square-foot facility located next to Sephora in the mall.

Success Space is a national co-working franchise designed to provide flexible workspace solutions in suburban markets. Each location offers a mix of shared and private workspaces, on-site professional coaching, event space, and an open-to-the-public Success Café serving coffee and snacks. The concept aims to meet the needs of remote workers, freelancers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs looking for an inspiring place to work and grow their businesses.

The Spotsylvania location, owned and operated by Dr. Hutcherson and Minor-Caliste, is the first of its kind in Virginia. The co-owners say their goal is to create not just a workspace but a community hub that fosters collaboration, professional development, and local economic growth.

 

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A new 28,000-square-foot event venue in Manassas is preparing to open its doors to the community this weekend.

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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Always Flavored, Fredericksburg’s hometown hot sauce sensation, has just bottled its first batch of legendary sauce on-site at its new bistro and market on Caroline Street—a fiery milestone years in the making.

Until now, founder and flavor architect Rita Witte has handcrafted her sauces in a fully built-out commercial kitchen at home. Now, for the first time, her small-batch sauces are made, bottled, and sold all under one roof at 619 Caroline Street, across the street from the brand’s former location.

The company celebrated the occasion with a social media post calling it a “huge win for the AF family” and a sign they’re “heading to the next level.”

A Growing Flavor Empire

The expanded space—about 1,400 square feet larger than the previous storefront—not only houses a gourmet sandwich bistro and retail space, but also accommodates tastings, events, and now full-scale production of their hot sauces and seasonings.

This comes on the heels of another major move: Always Flavored struck a retail deal with Food Lion, placing their products in 276 stores across Virginia. That means heat-seekers from Roanoke to Richmond can now find Rita’s bold creations on shelves statewide.

The Sauce Lineup

Always Flavored offers a unique and ever-growing lineup of sauces with playful names and intense personalities. Their current offerings include:

• Wrath of Rita – A blazing combo of Carolina Reapers, Ghost Peppers, Habaneros, mango, and pineapple
• Ritabeata’s Hot Sauce – Serrano, habanero, and jalapeño peppers with a vinegar-garlic-honey twist
• Ritabeata’s Mild Hot Sauce – A gentler green version for everyday flavor
• Sweet Virginia Love BBQ Sauce – A smooth, sweet, and smoky barbecue blend
• Ritabeata’s Thai Chili Sauce – Bold Thai flavors with a fiery finish
• Brady’s Tequila Sunrise – A boozy twist on your usual burn
• Ritabeata’s Peri-Peri – A zesty nod to the African classic
• Good Intentions with Bad Principals – Complex and clever, like its name
• Pissed Off Kristoff – Angry by name, fiery by nature
• Better Together Korean BBQ Sauce – Sweet, savory, and stick-to-your-ribs good
• Signal One – Built to bring the heat, fast
• The DADLIEST BATCH – A limited-edition scorcher

All sauces are all-natural, gluten-free, and fermented for deeper flavor.

MANASSAS, Va. – Farm Brew LIVE, one of the region’s top spots for beer, food, and live music, has a new name and an expanded vision. Villagio Hospitality Group announced that the 10-acre entertainment campus in Manassas is now officially NOVA LIVE.

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STAFFORD, Va. – More than 200 delivery drivers working for Genesis Logistics in Stafford County have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 322, a union representing workers across Virginia.

According to the union, drivers who deliver products to 7-Eleven convenience stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic region voted by more than 90% in favor of unionization. The drivers are now preparing to negotiate their first contract with the company.

“I want to personally congratulate these workers and welcome them to our Teamsters family,” said Dwayne Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 322. “Despite an aggressive campaign of illegal union busting, these workers remained determined to achieve the dignity and respect they deserved.”

The union alleges that Genesis Logistics, a subsidiary of DHL Supply Chain, hired union-busting consultants, held mandatory anti-union meetings, surveilled workers, and illegally disciplined those who supported the organizing effort. Teamsters Local 322 said it filed more than a dozen unfair labor practice charges during the organizing drive.

Genesis Logistics operates a distribution facility at 705 Bradburn Place in Stafford County.

“We organized with the Teamsters because we’ve had enough — enough of the low pay, the lack of respect, and poor benefits,” said Genesis driver Matthew Relford. “Management tried everything to stop us. But we stuck together and won. We’re proud to be Teamsters, and we’re ready to fight for what we’ve rightfully earned.”

Potomac Local News reached out to Genesis Logistics for comment on the vote and the union’s allegations. More than a week later, we have not received a response.

Teamsters Local 322 represents more than 2,000 workers in Virginia.

DUMFRIES, Va. –Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood recently spoke about the new development underway at the corner of Route 1 and Possum Point Road: the first-ever Wawa gas station in the town. This new business, set to open in late summer or early fall of 2025, promises to bring economic benefits to the area, marking a pivotal moment in the town’s growth and revitalization efforts.

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MANASSAS, Va. — Electra.aero, a Manassas-based aerospace company, has raised $115 million in Series B funding to move its revolutionary EL9 Ultra Short aircraft into pre-production and certification. The hybrid-electric, nine-passenger aircraft is designed to take off and land in just 150 feet, making it ideal for areas without traditional aviation infrastructure.

Led by Prysm Capital, the funding round brings on Jay Park as a new board member. The EL9 uses blown-lift and hybrid-electric technology to offer the agility of a helicopter, the quiet of an electric vehicle, and the cost-efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. Electra has already secured over 2,200 pre-orders worth more than $10 billion and is working with the U.S. military through multiple SBIR contracts to explore defense applications.

Electra’s CEO, Marc Allen, says the EL9 represents a leap forward in advanced air mobility, with capabilities that can transform commercial air travel and military logistics alike.

Full Press Release:

Manassas, VA, April 21, 2025 – Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) today announced it has secured $115 million in Series B funding to enter the pre-production and certification phase of the EL9, the first-ever Ultra Short aircraft, which can take off and land in 150 feet – roughly 10% of the footprint required for similarly-sized legacy airplanes.

The round was led by Prysm Capital, and Jay Park, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Prysm, has joined Electra’s Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to welcome Jay and Prysm to the Electra family,” said Electra Board Chair John Langford. “They’ve already become an indispensable partner and advisor as we transition from prototype to product with the EL9.”

By integrating blown lift technology with hybrid-electric propulsion, Electra’s 9-passenger EL9 Ultra Short offers a range of transformative dual-use capabilities. It operates with the landing and takeoff versatility of a helicopter, the quiet of an electric vehicle, and the cost advantage and safety of a fixed-wing, fixed-propeller aircraft. With the EL9, commercial operators can connect communities that lack traditional aviation infrastructure, fly into airports with strict noise restrictions, create new opportunities and business models for cargo services, and save travelers significant time.

For defense operators, the EL9 introduces novel logistics and troop transport capabilities, including the ability to take off and land with a low signature in helicopter-sized spaces in remote, austere areas and providing mobile power capabilities while building on the safety, cost, and range advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Electra has secured more than 2,200 pre-orders valued at over $10 billion for the EL9 – marking one of the largest provisional order pipelines in the commercial Advanced Air Mobility sector. Additionally, Electra has won over 20 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and NASA, and is currently performing on a Strategic Funding Increase contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop the EL9 for military use cases.

“At Electra, we are on a mission to deliver a new era of aviation, a leap forward in advanced air mobility that is both transformational and practical,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. “The EL9 Ultra Short opens the door to opportunities to establish new commercial routes, connect communities currently lacking aviation infrastructure, and enable entirely novel logistics capabilities for warfighters. We look forward to working with our partners at Prysm to continue the development of this aircraft and chart a new course for aviation.”

The EL9 delivers up to 3,000 pounds of payload and a range of up to 1,100 nautical miles, with in-flight battery recharging that eliminates the need for ground charging stations. The ability to operate from compact spaces and unimproved surfaces such as grass fields, parking lots, and repurposed heliports opens new routes and economic opportunities, making regional air mobility for passengers and cargo more affordable and accessible than ever before.

“Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short is a game-changing aircraft that unlocks important new capabilities for commercial and defense users,” said Jay Park. “The EL9 is the flagship of Electra’s future family of aircraft that will transform aviation with hybrid-electric technology. We are excited to partner with Marc, John and the team in their commitment to innovating and expanding air mobility solutions.”

Lockheed Martin Ventures (NYSE: LMT), Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), and Safran (EPA: SAF) are among Electra’s strategic investors along with Prysm Capital, Statkraft Ventures, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and other private investors.

Electra has grown to roughly 80 employees and established its position as the first mover and category creator in Ultra Short aviation.

About Electra

Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is an advanced aerospace company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft that achieve never-before performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra’s Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5X the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs with significantly greater safety and far less certification risk.

Electra’s team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Electra’s contracted customers include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy, along with over 2,200 aircraft under Letters of Intent from 50+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators.

The Town of Dumfries is considering forming its own Economic Development Authority (EDA), a move that town leaders say would give them more flexibility and control over how to attract, retain, and grow businesses within the town's borders.

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