Governor Terry McAuliffe is on an extended trade mission to southeast Asia until Oct. 29. Meanwhile his office is busy announcing that four companies so far this week are planning expansions which will create 313 new jobs and invest $90.6 million in business operations. The companies are already doing business in Botetourt, Carroll and Charlotte counties and the city of Virginia Beach.

Members of The General Assembly’s Business Development Caucus (BDC) met at the Capitol on Monday to review 70+ recommendations from 165 Virginia businesses for the 2015 legislative session. By the end of the day they had narrowed their focus to 17.

In an effort to highlight Virginia’s technological innovation and raise awareness about high performing industries, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe today declared October to be TechTober, a statewide celebration of Virginia’s high-tech sector.

Gainesville Ballet has moved into new digs, increasing its space, and adding voice, piano and extreme barre fitness classes to the comprehensive dance offerings and performances at the Hylton. Now, the organization has just recently learned it has received nonprofit status, which allows the studio to offer so much more for students.

The City of Manassas has launched an intensive research and marketing initiative aimed to discover, define and design the area’s competitive differentiator so it can stand out in the marketplace.

Manassas Councilman Ian Lovejoy is launching a series of roundtables designed to give the business community an opportunity to share insights, ideas, success stories and concerns about the business climate in the City of Manassas and the broader Prince William County area. First roundtable is Sept. 10.

Carlos Castro and Diana Paguaga will discuss how they overcame obstacles to achieve success, the role education has played in their lives, tips others can use to reach their goals and more as the iCAD series gets underway at Manassas NOVA.

August 11 is National 811 Day. Every digging or demolition project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, demolishing an old shed, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to Virginia811 before starting the work.