By Tim Ryan

Hey, fellow trailblazers of Hampton Roads! At Innovate757, we’re all about spotlighting the pulse-pounding stories of ingenuity that make our region a hotbed for startups, tech wizards, and forward-thinking makers. Today, we’re diving into a game-changer that’s set to turbocharge our local economy: GO Virginia Region 5‘s fresh $769,783 investment in cutting-edge manufacturing and strategic growth. Announced on September 30, 2025, this funding isn’t just dollars—it’s rocket fuel for the innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers who are redefining what it means to build, create, and thrive in the 757.

Let’s break it down. The lion’s share—$669,783—powers the HAMMER Program (Hampton Roads Advanced Manufacturing Modernization with Emerging Robotics), led by GENEDGE. This isn’t your grandpa’s welding shop; we’re talking cobotic welding, where humans team up with smart robots to crank out precision work faster, safer, and smarter. Traditionally locked behind the gates of massive shipyards, this tech is now breaking free to empower small- and medium-sized manufacturers across Norfolk and Newport News. GENEDGE will offer hands-on integration help, weld-quality protocols, and even guidance on snagging capital for equipment upgrades.

As David Bartlow, GENEDGE’s Director of Programs, puts it: “This investment will help manufacturers across all industries in the Hampton Roads area adopt cobotic welding technologies, strengthen their workforce, and boost regional competitiveness.” Imagine the ripple effects for you—the entrepreneur tinkering in a garage startup or the innovator scaling a niche fab shop. With Industry 4.0 tools like these, you’ll slash barriers to entry, amp up productivity, and compete on a global stage. GENEDGE, Virginia’s go-to Manufacturing Extension Partnership, has a proven track record: their lean training has transformed ops for clients like EDM, delivering immediate efficiency gains. In a region already buzzing with advanced manufacturing clusters—from shipbuilding to unmanned systems—HAMMER positions us as leaders in the next wave of robotic innovation.

Then there’s the $100,000 slice for the Hampton Roads Regional Investment Playbook, spearheaded by the Hampton Roads Alliance in collab with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. Covering our powerhouse localities—from Chesapeake to Williamsburg, Isle of Wight to York—this playbook builds on prior GO Virginia wins, pinpointing 7-10 high-impact initiatives in priority sectors like clean energy, cybersecurity, logistics, and emerging tech. It’s a roadmap to align with federal funding streams, turning offshore wind dreams and advanced air mobility ventures into reality.

Doug Smith, President & CEO of the Alliance, nails it: “The Hampton Roads Playbook represents the culmination of much of that work and provides a roadmap for the region to rise to the top of the new global economic order.” For our Innovate757 community, this means clearer paths to grants, partnerships, and talent pipelines. Think: more startups landing in defense tech, IT hubs exploding with jobs, and entrepreneurs tapping into a workforce of 895,000 strong, bolstered by military transitions and top-tier grads.

This isn’t happening in a vacuum. GO Virginia Region 5, our economic powerhouse spanning 16 cities and counties with a 1.8 million-strong population, has been on a tear since 2016. Chaired by Tom Frantz and supported by the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable (born from the merger of Reinvent Hampton Roads and others in 2023), it’s all about diversification beyond federal gigs—fostering collab between biz, education, and government. Recent moves, like the Talent Pathways Analysis for cybersecurity and aerospace, and the Economic Access Initiative expanding career paths in shipbuilding, show real momentum. Add in the StartInHamptonRoads campaign, a fresh talent magnet launched this summer by the Hampton Roads Chamber and Roundtable partners, and we’re drawing innovators worldwide to our shores.

Tom Frantz sums up the vibe: “These initiatives will yield competitive advantages to Hampton Roads manufacturers of all sizes… businesses and leaders more excited and engaged than we have seen for a long time.” At Innovate757, we’re pumped because this spells opportunity for you: higher-paying gigs (median income pushing $45K+), scalable ventures in targeted industries, and a region primed for breakthroughs in everything from water tech to uncrewed systems.

Whether you’re a startup founder eyeing robotics integration or an entrepreneur scouting federal alignments, this is your cue to plug in. Head to genedge.org for HAMMER deets, hamptonroadsalliance.com for playbook insights, or roundtablehr.org to join the Roundtable’s push. And don’t forget startinhamptonroads.com—let’s keep the 757’s innovation fire roaring. What’s your next big idea? Drop it in the comments—we’re here to amplify it.

Download the press release here.

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