2025 State of the City

Mayor Dyer 

Welcome to Virginia Beach’s State of the City 2025. We are excited to look back on the last 12 months with you since we last gathered...and give a nod to the opportunities ahead.

City Manager Duhaney 

Also today, we want you to engage with each other a little bit more...and give you more time for socializing and networking. So, don’t forget to eat the cake, get your cell phones out and be ready to text, because we have some questions for you to answer – and see the results in real time. That’s what the QR code at your table is for.

Mayor Dyer 

But first, we have some folks to recognize who have been engaging daily with our community on important initiatives. We have an outstanding City Council, a perfect blend of seasoned veterans, working with some new faces who bring new ideas and a fresh look to our city, its challenges, and its future. If you will, I would like to recognize each of them.

Members of City Council, please stand when I call your name and remain standing. Please hold your applause for after we introduce all Councilmembers.

• Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson, District 5
• David Hutcheson, District 1
• Barbara Henley, District 2
• Michael Berlucchi, District 3
• Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, District 4
• Worth Remick, District 6
• Cal “Cash” Jackson-Green, District 7
• Stacy Cummings, District 8
• Joash Schulman, District 9
• Jennifer Rouse, District 10

Mayor Dyer 

Everyone here today is busy at work opening “doors of opportunity” for our residents, our workforce, and our business community to thrive and succeed.

Many famous people have said important things about doors...well, metaphorically speaking. Lyndon B. Johnson once said: “We must open the doors of opportunity; But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors.”

City Manager Duhaney 

My wife might like this one: “Don’t spend time beating on a wall...hoping to transform it into a door.” said Coco Chanel.

Mayor Dyer 

Thousands of doors are literally being opened every day in this city. Everyone here today plays a role in opening those doors of opportunity. Take a look.

City Manager Duhaney

It’s time for our first audience participation question. Using the QR code at your table or on the screen, take out your phones and get ready to enter your answer to the following question:

The doors are getting ready to open at The Dome. What performer, comedian or band do you want Live Nation, our venue partner, to book at The Dome?

Let’s give everyone a minute and then we will show you the results. Keep it clean, folks.

City Manager Duhaney 

Over the years, leaders around the city have informally tagged different names on the City of Virginia Beach.

During the 50s and 60s, there was an “entertainment explosion” of sorts that was aimed squarely at tourism: amusement parks, arcades, dance clubs - with both big bands and the latest modern dances – as well as restaurants, hotels, bright sandy beaches, and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean lapping at the shore.

With all of this available, Virginia Beach was often referred to as “Playtown U.S.A.”

Later, in the 70s and 80s, it was referred to as “Neptune City,” “The Resort City,” “Virginia’s Fastest Growing City,” and simply – “The Beach.”

Mayor Dyer 

Because of our strong military forces stationed here for over 60 years and our excellent public safety teams, many call us a “City of Heroes.”

These names came about because of energy, energy of different types.

Someone mentioned to me last week that we were becoming a “City of Energy.”

The more I thought about it, the more I began to think that maybe there was something to it. Atlantic Park - as you just saw in the video - is certainly bringing a new energy to our city, and yes, “wave of energy”! But a look back at 2024, we can see a number of accomplishments that “fueled” our City’s energy.

City Manager Duhaney 

It all started in 1957 with the Virginia Beach Civic Center and later named the Alan B. Shepard Civic Center – with its space-age façade and new look, it began to be a drawing card for the region. There were conventions, school dances, private parties, car shows, roller skating parties, and many other local events.

Beginning in 1962, a young disc jockey with W-L-E-E radio and later W-G-H radio - Gene Loving – a friend to many of us here today - began to work to bring in musical acts of all types: Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Supremes, The Who, The Grateful Dead, and many, many more turned this convention center to its popular name – “The Dome.”

This continued on through the 60s, 70s, 80s, and the early 90s – until its last concert in 1993 with Three Dog Night as its final act.

Mayor Dyer 

Now we are about to embark on a new venture – something that no one could have envisioned back in 1957. This new venture - Atlantic Park, is scheduled to open May 4, and it will be like nothing we’ve done before.

It will include space for residences, offices, retail, entertainment, restaurants, parking, and a Wavegarden Surf Park will pump out 1,000 waves per hour.

Some of the many entertaining acts that will be performing are Three Dog Night, Pat Benatar, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Ziggy Marley, Melissa Etheridge, Chicago, Alison Krause, Kody Jinks, KEM, Dianna Krall; many people are already referring to it as the “New Dome.”

It’s an exciting project and will reinforce Virginia Beach as an outstanding place to live as well as a year-round vacation destination.

City Manager Duhaney

For some of our younger Virginia Beach residents, the “New Dome” might be their first concert experience...so we want to know now, and this is a fun throw-back, for many of us, what was your first concert ever? Mine was Jamaican singer Buju Banton. Use the QR code at your table to answer this question and see the results.

Taking care of our guests also means taking care of our community. The Virginia Beach tourism industry sustains 33,000 jobs, representing 19 percent of the city’s workforce. Visitor spending contributes $336 million in state and local tax revenues, effectively reducing the annual tax burden by almost $2,000 for each Virginia Beach household.

Mayor Dyer

And there’s nothing more energetic than what we saw a few weeks ago hosting thousands of guests at our Virginia Beach Sports Center. Renowned as the “Home of Championships,” Virginia Beach hosted an unprecedented week of collegiate athletic excellence. 

Over the span of seven days, three NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Conference Championships took place, bringing together elite student-athletes for an inspiring display of talent and competition. In just a few days, we will also host the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field championship.

Mayor Dyer 

I doubt if there are many people today who don’t understand the rapid growth and escalating needs in technology for so many facets of our lives. Now, we are seeing a certain energy that is fueling that growth; growth that will lead us through the 21st Century.

Virginia Beach started becoming a growing part of the technology boon several years ago, specifically with our subsea cable projects and all the related efforts that come with that.

Just to give you some perspective as to how important just these cables alone are becoming to our economy,  over 90% of all the world’s internet traffic is carried by these cables.

City Manager Duhaney 

There are currently 1.4 million kilometers of submarine cables in service around the world, or about 870,000 miles – with many more in the works.

This is the equivalent of circling the Earth 35 times, or going to the moon and back twice, or crossing the U.S. 290 times.

International bandwidth has been doubling every two years, with the number tripling since 2018 to 997 terabytes per second in 2022.

Mayor Dyer 

So, what happens once we have those cables available?

Given the high-stakes nature of these investments, any local and foreign investor will also look for predictability and transparency when considering a location as a viable landing point for any cable system.

Fortunately for us in Virginia Beach, we have a partner that is a huge player in the field of data centers. Their reputation as leaders in the world of technology and subsea connectivity was second-to-none.

City Manager Duhaney 

When Globalinx announced in 2018 that they were establishing a data center here in Virginia Beach at Corporate Landing - it really upped our game as players in the world of subsea cable technology.

This opens exciting opportunities for businesses to enter the region and spur rapid business and commercial growth, not just in Virginia Beach, but throughout the region and state. This partnership opens new doors of opportunity in this field, and will further Virginia Beach’s goal of becoming the highest capacity digital port on the Eastern Seaboard.

Mayor Dyer 

Dominion Energy precipitated a lot of this growth with the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. When completed, the 2.6 giga-watt project will power up to 660,000 homes.

As of today, half of the monopile foundations which are needed for the 176 turbines have been installed. They continue to move forward and are on target to complete construction by 2026.

City Manager Duhaney 

This project has attracted many of the leading businesses in the wind energy field to Virginia Beach.

In 2024, Virginia Beach signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex in order to enhance economic collaboration in the clean energy sector.

The MOU aims to foster mutual growth by connecting over 70 United Kingdom companies with Virginia Beach and highlights a partnered potential for investment and growth in both regions.

Mayor Dyer 

Acoustical Sheetmetal, a company that manufactures sound-reducing and weather-protective enclosures for power generation equipment used in the data center industry, in hospitals and other critical facilities showed their growth this year. The company’s remarkable expansion from 98 to 500 employees is a testament to that rapid growth and is a significant capital investment for the city. 

City Manager Duhaney 

Doma Technologies, a cloud-based document management software company, expanded their headquarters to a 69,000-square-foot facility housing nearly 750 employees. 

Mayor Dyer 

Amazon has completed the construction of a 650,000-square-foot state-of-the-art robotics fulfillment center off Dam Neck Road. This is a “last mile” delivery station in Virginia Beach, creating 2,000 full-time jobs. Amazon has almost 200 electric delivery vans operating out of there, making it the first facility in Virginia to use this state-of-the-art vehicle to serve customers.

City Manager Duhaney 

Zim, a global container shipping company invested $30 million to relocate and expand its U.S. headquarters.

Mayor Dyer 

With our strategic location near the Port of Virginia, ZIM will continue delivering top-quality service to customers while creating several hundred jobs over the next five years. The economic impact, the investment and the jobs that they bring to our city and our region is immense, and something to celebrate.

City Manager Duhaney 

The City’s Business Resource Center – known as “The Hive” – was active and running in full force in 2024. They offered 196 workshops, held 189 “one-on-one” business counseling sessions, assisted 31 military veterans starting a business, and 15 home-based businesses used “Thrive at the HIVE,” the no-cost workspace with business technical assistance. 

Mayor Dyer 

The bigger news was the work “The Hive” did with Maxbyte Technologies.

Maxbyte and the HIVE established a partnership aimed at helping Virginia Beach industrial companies develop innovative and sustainable solutions in the field of manufacturing industry 4.0. This also included helping individuals learn advanced skills and new industrial technologies.

City Manager Duhaney 

I’m pleased to share that minority-owned businesses, in fiscal year 2024, were awarded 94.6 million dollars and women-owned businesses were awarded 86.2 million dollars in City contracts. The overall award amount in City contracts to minority and women-owned businesses increased by 75 million dollars compared to 2023. Our business community is thriving - and the City is enthusiastic about supporting these efforts.

Mayor Dyer 

We had three special anniversaries in 2024.

The first was the 50th Anniversary of Stihl coming to Virginia Beach. Recognizing that the U.S. was one of the largest markets in the world, in the 1970’s, the Stihl family decided to open a manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach.

STIHL opened its doors in 1974 with 50 employees assembling one model of chainsaw. Today, over 2,300 employees manufacture millions of powerheads a year on the sprawling 150-acre facility.

City Manager Duhaney 

The Neptune Festival also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. In 1973, Richard Kline, president of the Virginia Beach Chamber of Commerce, reached out to Fred Napolitano to help the city come up with an idea to create an event that would bring residents together, attract the interest of tourists and celebrate the heritage of the city.

Mayor Dyer 

It brings thousands of visitors to the Boardwalk each year, with Boardwalk Weekend drawing more than 400,000 people along the 30-block-long celebration - including visitors from other countries.

City Manager Duhaney

Also, this year, another success story - our Vibe Creative District - marks its 10th Anniversary.

There may have been a few skeptics when this idea was first proposed because of its uniqueness, but the commitment, hard work and successes in this district over the last 10 years is impressive. Consider their growth and successes:

• 68 new or expanded small businesses have opened.
• 73 large-scale murals were added.
• 500 artists were commissioned.
• 21.2 million dollar increase in annual gross sales in the district. 
• And 152 NEW business licenses since 2016.

City Manager Duhaney 

Private and public support has not wavered throughout their first 10 years. City Council has recently earmarked a dedicated revenue source for local arts and cultural organizations - estimated to be about $1.6 million per year. This widespread support shows that the arts are a vibrant part of the Virginia Beach economy.

Mayor Dyer 

Every year when we do this event, I am proud to highlight the many accomplishments of our Public Safety leaders and personnel. It’s always good news that everyone should know about.

This year, sadly, is different. These same departments have much to be proud of, but - as you know, on Friday, Feb. 21, a tragic incident took the lives of two highly respected officers – Officer Cameron Girvin and Officer Christopher Reese – who had bright futures ahead of them in law enforcement.

Anytime a first responder loses their life on the job, it’s painful and tragic. To lose two in the same incident is staggering - and almost beyond comprehension. We grieve for the family, for our public safety departments and for our city.

Let’s take a moment of silence to honor their lives and sacrifice.

Public safety and military service are a daily sacrifice, and we are thankful for those who choose every day to serve.

I’d like to recognize Capt. David Gray, Commander Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, and Capt. Josh Appezzato - Commander with Naval Air Station Oceana for their partnership and their commitment to serving our country.

Sheriff Rocky Holcomb and his team of deputies and other professionals have given their time and their all to be out in our communities, helping so many different groups and neighborhoods. They perform their many, many duties professionally and – by doing so - help so many in our city.

City Manager Duhaney 

Our police professionals have mastered the latest in technology for police departments while continuing their outreach efforts throughout the community.

Our firefighters have not only contributed so much to our city’s safety, but across our Commonwealth and country as well, working with other states in need by lending a helping hand during a disaster.

Our EMS professionals have continued to be there for those in need during emergencies, while also setting new standards for medical care and trauma. This places them as a top EMS department in the Commonwealth and beyond.

And emergency management and planning for one of the largest cities in our state is crucial. Their work saves lives, protects property and ensures community well-being during weather and crisis situations.

Our dispatch team answered more than 200,000 9-1-1 calls for help in the last 12 months.

Mayor Dyer 

Speaking of our 911 dispatchers, I would like to take just a minute to introduce a local hero.

Back in November 11-year-old Vada Carawan learned CPR at her weekly Girl Scout meeting. She had no idea that she would need to use those lessons less than two weeks later.

Vada’s dad, Cameron Carawan, complained one day of chest pains. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground. Vada immediately dialed 911 and was on the phone with a dispatcher, David Fowler, with the 911 dispatch team.

Vada told David: “My dad fell back, he’s trying to gasp for air!”

David asked Vada: “We might need you to do CPR. Are you willing to help out?”

Vada told him: “Yes sir.”

David walked her through the process – step-by-step.

He asked her: “Are you ready to go?”

Vada answered: “Yes sir!”

Then David started: “All right, and start, 1...2...3...4...”

Vada said later: “That was a big help. He counted for me when I did chest compressions.”

Someone asked her how did she stay calm?

“I didn’t really think about it” said Vada. I was just like, I need to save my dad’s life. So, focus sight now – think chest compressions.”

Asked what she learned from this life-saving experience, Vada answered:

“You can do anything that you put your mind to, no matter how old you are. I think that’s important for everybody to know, because some kids are saying that they can’t do stuff because they’re too little or not strong enough to do it. But I don’t believe that whatsoever.”

Today, I’d like to recognize Vada Carawan, her dad, Cameron Carawan, and the 911 dispatcher who assisted Vada, David Fowler. All three of you, please stand and be recognized.

Mayor Dyer 

I’d also like to recognize one more group of people who contribute to our efforts and successes, people I consider unsung heroes.

I'm speaking of the spouses and family members of all of our public safety and military personnel; the ones who stand behind them and are taking care of everything so that these public safety team members can do their jobs and serve us all so well. They couldn’t do their jobs without your help and support.

I also thank the spouses and families of our City Council members as well. What helps us serve the residents and get everything done is the support we have behind us. I’d also like to thank my wife Trish for all of her support. She has celebrated with me during the good times and been my rock during all of the challenging times. She knows me so well, sometimes maybe TOO well!

Thank you all, and God bless each and every one of you behind the scenes.

City Manager Duhaney 

One of our most comprehensive projects in years has been the Flood Protection Program.

The Windsor Woods Tide Gate near I-264 at Mount Trashmore is substantially complete. This gate will prevent flooding of the Windsor Woods neighborhood. It took 27 months to construct and cost about $21 million.

The Stormwater Master Plan is nearly complete. This plan uses the City’s master stormwater model to determine which areas are flooding during heavy storms.

These plans provide guidance for the City to improve the stormwater system to fix flooding in the future.

Projects in the plan that are completed are Lake Bradford Ditch Dredging, Lake Pleasure House Dredging and Outfall, Old Forge Road, and Ashville Park.

New stormwater projects for First Colonial, Oceana and Seatack are currently under construction.

Mayor Dyer 

Virginia Beach City Public Schools continues to provide an exceptional education to our city’s youth under the leadership and vision of the School Board and Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson.

With 86 schools and over 65,000 enrolled students, our schools have received numerous accolades and reached notable milestones.

City Manager Duhaney

For the 15th consecutive year, schools reached a record-high on-time graduation rate, which now stands at 96%.

The Class of 2024 was offered over $118 million in scholarships and accepted over $57 million.

24 of our schools earned the Virginia Department of Education’s Purple Star Designation because of their continued commitment to meeting the needs of military families.

Mayor Dyer

Green Run Collegiate was named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, receiving the distinction of Exemplary High Performing School. Green Run Collegiate was one of ONLY EIGHT schools in the state to earn this distinction.

Thank you to our School Board members, teachers and all school staff who are making such a positive impact on Virginia Beach youth. Please stand to be recognized.

Mayor Dyer

Ask anyone to find another city anywhere that has more caring people, a more caring community, and an overall attitude of “we’re here to help each other.”

I just described Jim and Krista White and their team at “LIFT.” They are a team who have an ongoing dedication to transforming lives and helping to end homelessness.

Jim was moved by an enlightening moment when he saw homeless people sleeping on the beach. He and Krista decided it was their duty to step up and see what role they could play in helping our city overcome homelessness.

They embrace a holistic approach – they don’t just feed someone in need or give them a place to sleep, they help them learn and get the tools they need to make their own lives better.

LIFT’s motto is: “Giving Back, Making a Difference.” They truly believe that, and they do all that they can for others who are reaching out for a hand, and in doing so, they really and truly are lifting others up and making a difference!

So today, it is my pleasure to present our City’s Annual Champion of Hope Award to Jim and Krista White.

City Manager Duhaney

Our Planning Department has spent the last 19 months updating the City’s comprehensive plan. Staff has prioritized community engagement throughout the process, engaging with over 10,000 individual residents through surveys, focus groups and public meetings.

This 2040 Comprehensive Plan is in its final stages and is expected to be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for review and adoption this fall.

Mayor Dyer

At the City Council retreat in January, the City Council met and discussed priorities and needs for Virginia Beach as we go forward in 2025 and beyond.

Council is making transportation, roadways and traffic a priority. Public safety has always been a priority, and will continue to be one.

Tourism and Economic development are vitally important because our success there contributes to our tax base and help keep our property tax rate lower.

Flooding and stormwater issues and projects are vitally important to our resiliency.

Projects that focus on quality-of-life for our neighborhoods and businesses are a huge plus for our city - and will continue to be.

Our City Council also agreed that our focus on what is most important NOW is vital...and not be weighed down with old plans or promises that no longer fit what our vision is for the city.

City Manager Duhaney And now I think it’s time for another audience participation question. We want to hear from you now on this: What is a priority for you for Virginia Beach? Text us your answer using the QR code at your table.

Thank you for your input.

Mayor Dyer

In closing, the city you see today is more refined. It is leaner, stronger, and better prepared to meet the challenges of the future. 

The energy of the people in a city creates a bigger energy that propels a community and its people to higher goals, great accomplishments, and greater successes, And the world is taking notice. 

Here are just a few of our recent accolades.

Mayor Dyer

Whenever we look into the future, we know there will always be change. Some doors will close, other doors will open. We can grow and expand if we keep in mind that our greatest successes  will happen because of unity.

City Manager Duhaney

Opening these doors takes energy and creates new energy.

Mayor Dyer

Back in 1994, the “Old Dome” had seen its best days, and the doors closed. But as we worked together and planned our future, and we could see that there was a need for that same place and the energy it created in its heyday.

Because of people and leaders and planners working together, we have an exciting opportunity to reflect on the past while framing new doors for the future.

We invite you now to network with each other and meet someone new; someone who might help you and your company or organization open the next set of doors of opportunity for Virginia Beach.

Thank you all for being here today. May God bless Virginia Beach and its residents, and God bless our country!

See all of you at The Dome in just a few weeks!