Awards and honors
The Electron-Ion Collider Center at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility announced the winners of six new research fellowships. Over the next year, the fellows will work to advance the science program and further the research of the electron-ion collider. Among the postdoctoral research fellows is Michael Nycz from the University of Virginia. Among the graduate student fellows is Ronglong Fang from Old Dominion University.
Norfolk-based SL. Nusbaum Realty Co. is a winner of The National Apartment Association’s 2023 NAA Top Employers Awards, which recognize member organizations that foster cultures of collaboration, innovation and hard work. These awards pay tribute to management companies and suppliers from across the rental housing industry that have gone above and beyond to create safe, engaging and caring work environments over the past year.
U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, received the Champion for Children Award from the First Focus Campaign for Children for his leadership during the 117th Congress on issues impacting children. The organization specifically highlighted his work to expand access for affordable child care and improve access to healthy school meals.
Grants and donations
On May 23, the ABNB Community Foundation announced that it awarded 10 grants totaling $69,000 to a wide range of local nonprofit organizations in Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina. Recipients include: ForKids, Roc Solid Foundation, Samaritan House, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Hampton Roads, Equi-Kids therapeutic riding program, Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, Food Bank of the Albemarle, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Stage Company and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Norfolk.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of more than $12.7 million in funding to make more good jobs available to the U.S. workforce by supporting training initiatives designed to promote safe and healthy workplaces. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program includes funding opportunities for targeted topic training, training and educational materials development, and new capacity building training grants for nonprofit organizations. Grants will support recipients’ efforts to provide instructor-led remote and in-person hands-on training for workers and employers in small businesses; industries with high injury, illness and fatality rates; and vulnerable workers, who are underserved, have limited English proficiency or are temporary workers. Applicants must register with grants.gov and SAM.gov to apply. Submit applications at grants.gov by July 7.
Through July 4, the Mighty Spark meat production company and Harris Teeter are partnering to provide nutritious meals to the one in nine people who face food insecurity in the Southeast. Through this partnership, the company will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal for every one of its products purchased at the grocery store. The donations will be distributed to Feeding America food bank partners to help people experiencing hunger. Meal donations generated from the purchases made at Harris Teeter will be donated to the store’s 16 Feeding America-member food bank partners throughout its market areas. All donations will benefit the local food bank to the store in which the product is purchased.
Virginia Natural Gas committed $250,000 to assist ForKids, a local nonprofit organization that helps low- to moderate-income families in securing financial stability. The energy company recently presented the grant to the organization in support of ongoing initiatives to help program participants with financial fitness workshops and coaching. The grant funds will be used to open two Financial Opportunity Centers in Chesapeake and Suffolk that will help low-income families build effective money habits and achieve their career, financial and personal goals. Four coaches will be hired to assist 100 participants a year.
Opening
The Birth Place at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News recently opened its new renovated units. The renovations, costing approximately $1 million, include flooring, paint, lighting, ceiling tiles, case work in patient rooms and a nursing station, new furniture, updated art and bathroom upgrades throughout the entire labor and delivery unit and postpartum unit.
The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Hook Law, which specializes in legal and financial planning, on May 18. On hand for the event was Tejal Desai, chief operating officer; Letha McDowell, attorney/shareholder; and Andrew Hook, president. The new office is located at 8 Juniper Trail First Floor in Southern Shores.
