Chesapeake farmland industrial megasite project receives $35 million in funding to get ‘shovel-ready’

CHESAPEAKE — A 1,400-acre tract of farmland now zoned for an industrial megasite in southern Chesapeake will receive a $35 million state grant to help get it “shovel-ready.”

The funding is part of $126 million earmarked for 23 sites in the commonwealth as part of the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. The program is a partnership with localities, utilities and state agencies to fund infrastructure improvements that help get larger sites operational for employers and manufacturers.

The Chesapeake City Council in 2022 rezoned the 1,420 acres, which were part of a tract of farmland owned by Virginia Beach’s Frank T. Williams. The rezoned property, which straddles the North Carolina line, has since been dubbed the Coastal Virginia Commerce Park, with city leaders hoping it’ll attract larger commercial and industrial projects once it has been primed for development.

Chesapeake Economic Development Director Steven Wright called the project “transformational” for the city. He said the goal is to ensure all the necessary utility services are adequate so the site can move to a tier-five shovel-ready status, meaning a company could begin developing immediately.

It’s not clear, however, how soon that will occur as the city will need to pursue additional funding to get there. As of now, Wright said the site is in tier three.

“(This) site received the largest grant from the commonwealth,” Wright said. “So we think it’s a clear indication that this is a very attractive site, and that with continued investment into the site, it will be even more appealing for companies looking to move largescale manufacturing operations to Virginia.”

Speed to market is a major factor for the competitive grant program, Wright said. The 23 sites selected across the commonwealth in this program amount to more than 10,000 acres of developable land. A total of 45 sites across Virginia have received funding to date, resulting in 3,720 jobs, according to a news release about the funding.

Suffolk received $3.5 million for Port 460 Logistics Center and Newport News $327,600 for Air Commerce Park East and West.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, [email protected]