Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA 1), Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, visited RapidFlight, a Manassas-based designer and mass manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the global defense industry, last week.
RapidFlight briefed Congressman Wittman on its capacity to disrupt the industry with cost-effective, mission-customizable drones that offer five times the range and endurance at a fraction of the cost of traditional small UAV systems. The company's approach, AgileAviation, boasts over 20 customizable UAV designs and a proprietary software-hardware stack aimed at ensuring U.S. competitiveness against overseas production, particularly from countries like China.
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Making it as a small business today can be difficult, but small business leaders in the Fredericksburg area can look to the University of Mary Washington’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for lessons on succeeding. The center guides future entrepreneurs in pursuit of economic growth through education, consulting, connecting, and supportive research.
“A lot of people want to be their own boss,” said Susan Ball, the Director of the SBDC. She sees this as the number one reason people want to own a small business, followed by the opportunity to make more money and the feeling that they can do it better.
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Stafford County officials clarified that there will be no hearing during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 7, regarding the proposed Buc-ee's gas station.
This clarification comes after inaccuracies reported by WUSA-TV, which the county has asked to correct.
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The Stafford County Board of Supervisors faces a looming decision on the Clift Farm proposal by Jarrell Properties, Inc., which seeks to rezone 57 acres from Agricultural to Urban Residential - Medium Density. The development area, located on Clift Farm Road, just off Leland Road in the Falmouth District, plans for 141 age-restricted homes.
The site, mostly undeveloped, houses a single-family dwelling and includes areas of open farm fields and woods. Surrounding lands comprise rural residential properties and undeveloped parcels. The proposed development has sparked concerns due to its intensity and potential impacts on local infrastructure.
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More Specialty Courts?
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will discuss the enhancement and expansion of specialty courts at the Safe and Secure Communities briefing scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 2 p.m. Specialty courts focus on cases involving substance abuse, mental health issues, and provide tailored interventions to address the root causes of criminal behavior. The briefing will also touch on other public safety initiatives and the implementation of pretrial services aimed at improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The event is open to the public and will take place at the county government building, 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. Watch live.
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The checkerboard tower next to the train station in downtown Fredericksburg is getting a makeover that will say less “Purina,” and more “upgrade,” as officials go with a blue checkerboard pattern and “Welcome to Fredericksburg.”
The red checkerboard pattern looked like the logo on the Purina dog food containers, and people around town always thought that was where the dog food was made. But is this true? Was it full of Purina Dog Food that emptied into Purina trucks that went all over the country, serving up dog food to hungry canines?
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It's time once again for the annual Stafford County Business Appreciation Reception.
The event is organized by the county's economic development department, which we told you are under new management with the appointment of Liz Barber as the new department head.
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Voodoo Brothers will replace the once-popular Okra's Cajun Creole restaurant in Downtown Manassas.
The new owners, Luke Tamer and Antonio Escamilla plan to bring "Bourbon Street" to Center Street, adding crawfish boils and an outdoor bar, the told the city government, included the restaurant announcement in its newsletter.
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Stafford County has a new director of economic development. Liz Barber was named the ED for the county, the second in less than a year.
It's a promotion for Barber, who was already serving as the interim director and had been working as a business manager before that since 2023.
![Some say keep the current paint job while others want to renew the look. [Photo: Mike Salmon]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Purina-Tower-1-1260x840.jpg){kind=link}
![There is a building attached that is home to a few businesses. [Photo: Mike Salmon]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Purina-Tower-9-1260x840.jpg){kind=link}
![A gift shop is one of the businesses by the tower. [Photo: Mike Salmon]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Purina-Tower-13-1260x840.jpg){kind=link}