Gov. Ralph Northam recently announced an allocation of more than $11.1 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants to help advance economic recovery efforts across the commonwealth, including in Western Tidewater.

A news release from the office of the governor added that this funding will support 20 projects focused on expanding workforce development and talent pipelines in key industries, growing startup businesses and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and increasing Virginia’s business-ready sites portfolio.

Included in this round of GO Virginia funding is one statewide project, 16 regional projects and three projects through GO Virginia’s Economic Resilience and Recovery Program. The awarded projects will leverage an additional $7.1 million in local and other non-state resources.

Among the 2021 Round Two Statewide Grant Awards was the $1.45 million going to the Cybersecurity Job Creation System. This system applies to, among other localities, the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk in Region 5.

For this system, Old Dominion University Research Foundation will develop and deliver a cost-effective, cloud-based compliance system to help Virginia’s Department of Defense contractors achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) accreditation. A NIST 800-171/CMMC education program will be developed and delivered by Old Dominion University, Eastern Shore Community College, and as part of the four VA-affiliated universities and participating community colleges.

Among the 2021 Round Two Regional Grant Awards was the $96,000 going to the Sussex County Water Study. This study applies to the counties of Isle of Wight and Surry, in addition to Sussex, in Region 4.

For this study, Virginia’s Gateway Region will facilitate a preliminary engineering report for the evaluation of water supply alternatives to serve a 1,000-acre development site in Sussex County. Funding will support the expanded marketability of the site by identifying strategies to provide additional water capacity.

Another 2021 Round Two Regional Grant Award was the $453,000 going to the Minority Small Business Launch Center at Virginia State University. This center applies to, among other localities, Surry County in Region 4.

The Division of Research and Economic Development and the Center for Entrepreneurship at Virginia State University will create a Minority Small Business Launch Center that will provide a comprehensive suite of services for minority business founders and early stage businesses. Funding will support the creation of 90 jobs and 40 new businesses.