Economic Development

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg EDA takes up City Soccer Club sponsorship in closed session; no public vote

By PLN News
A view of Downtown Fredericksburg from above Hurkamp Park [Photo: Fredericksburg City]

The Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority took up the business of Fredericksburg City Soccer Club at its Sept. 14 and Oct. 5 meetings. The authority went into closed session on a sponsorship proposal and took no public vote after it returned to open session.

Brett Pierce introduced himself in open session on Oct. 5 as operations director for the club and said he was there to answer questions. The club, also called Fred City, was founded in 2026. Ownership includes former City Council member Jason Graham, Gilberto Baez, Victor Fuster, and Charlie Payne. It announced in September that it will field men’s and women’s teams in USL League Two and the USL W League beginning in 2027, with first games expected in May, likely at the University of Mary Washington’s Battleground Athletic Complex. City Council proclaimed Sept. 23 “Fred City Soccer Club Day” the night before the public announcement, citing sports tourism and community benefits.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg EDA asks whether the business license is costing employers

By PLN News
A view of Downtown Fredericksburg from above Hurkamp Park [Photo: Fredericksburg City]

Run a business in Fredericksburg and the city starts taxing your receipts at $100,000. Cross into Spotsylvania and, on the numbers read in the room Monday, that same kind of tax does not start until $2 million. Head north into Stafford, and there is no tax of this kind at all. Three weeks ago, Stafford’s supervisors refused to bring one back.

That gap was a focus of the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority during its Oct. 5 retreat. The authority did not vote, and it did not recommend a rate. Chair Meredith Schatz said she wanted the receipts in hand before she took the question to a Nov. 4 meeting with the city. She did not want to hand the City Council a problem with no solution attached.

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Stafford

Stafford splits 5–2 on Stafford One industrial site, extends Potomac Creek clock

By PLN News
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.Aerial view of Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway.
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rezoned about 38.6 acres at Stafford One Industrial to heavy industrial on a 5–2 vote, unanimously approved a small Telegraph Road office rezoning, extended the Potomac Creek Campus application clock to Dec. 4, and cleared temporary construction access for a Hartwood Elementary School replacement.

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Fredericksburg

City ED seeks EDA feedback on $100k strategic plan update

By PLN News
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file

Fredericksburg’s economic development director asked the city Economic Development Authority on Sept. 14 for a fast read on a new department strategic plan, funded at about $100,000 this year, that would replace the 10-point plan City Council adopted in 2023.

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Stafford

Stafford board advances repeal of unique transportation impact fees, pauses new collections

By Potomac Local News
Stafford County Administrator Bill Ashton presents the proposed FY2027 budget to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 17, 2026, at the Government Center.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4–3 on Sept. 1 to advertise a public hearing on repealing the county’s transportation impact fee ordinance and then passed an emergency measure 4–2 to stop new collections until that hearing.

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Stafford

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Stafford bags Publix a $2.25M tax cut — by a 5–2 squeaker

By Potomac Local News
Rendering of Publix's 1st Louisville, Kentucky, store from the groundbreaking ceremony.
Rendering of Publix's 1st Louisville, Kentucky, store from the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 5–2 on Tuesday to approve a performance-based incentive of up to $2.25 million over 10 years for a Publix grocery store on tax map parcel 44-62, in front of the new Hartwood High School on Warrenton Road (U.S. 17) in south Stafford.

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Stafford

Stafford posts $2.1 billion in announced deals in first year of new economic plan

By Potomac Local News

Stafford County’s economic-development office said Tuesday that fiscal 2026 produced more than $2.1 billion in announced capital investment and 1,671 announced jobs, and posted the first public annual report under a strategic plan adopted last year.

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Prince William

Prince William supervisors initiate study of 1,000–1,400-home Catharpin proposal

By Uriah Kiser

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 5-3 on July 21, 2026, to initiate a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for Catharpin Valley Estates, a proposal covering 292 acres in the Gainesville District.

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Virginia

Gov. Spanberger Leads Virginia Economic Mission to United Kingdom, Italy and France

By Uriah Kiser
Gov. Abigail Spanberger seated at a desk signing a document, Virginia seal on the chair
Gov. Abigail Spanberger. File photo.

“Strengthening relationships with international employers, attracting new business investment and expanding economic opportunity in Virginia is the goal of a European trip this week by Gov. Abigail Spanberger,” The Center Square reported. The governor is joined by the secretaries of commerce and trade and of agriculture and forestry, along with officials from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Tourism Corporation and Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and will attend the Farnborough International Airshow.

Existing Virginia employers with European roots include BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce from the United Kingdom, Selex Galileo from Italy and Airbus Group from France. The delegation is scheduled to return this weekend after meetings aimed at positioning the commonwealth as a top U.S. investment destination.

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Virginia

Virginia Loses More Jobs Than Any Other State, Ranks 48th in Growth

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Spanberger Facebook page

“Over the past year, Virginia has lost more jobs than any other state,” Cardinal News reported. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the Commonwealth shed 51,400 jobs from May 2025 to May 2026, with heavy losses in federal positions and professional services, placing it 48th nationally for job growth.

Northern Virginia communities, heavily tied to federal contracting, face heightened risks as manufacturing declines accelerate and a gap widens with neighboring North Carolina, despite Virginia’s solid CNBC business climate ranking.

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