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On maps, the blue ribbon of the Appomattox River cleaves the Tri-Cities area in two, separating north bank from south bank, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield from Petersburg, Hopewell, Dinwiddie and Prince George.

The newly released master plan for the Appomattox River Trail would redraw that map, spanning the watery divide with a series of bridges and connecting the trails developed independently by the six municipalities to knit the region more closely together around its most valuable natural resource.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore touted Dinwiddie County’s new Aldi distribution center as another step forward in the governor’s ambitious plans to build a “New Virginia Economy” at a groundbreaking for the project held March 24.

“This is just a continuation of what we have,” McAuliffe declared, citing the 78,000 people in the commonwealth who work in logistics and distribution.

When it opens in August 2018, the Dinwiddie division headquarters and distribution center will add at least another 145 Virginians to that total. Between those labor force increases, the 500,000 square foot building that will be constructed and the $57 million in investment the new facility will require, the Aldi represents one of the largest economic development projects in the county and the region in several years.

Last month, Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization hosted the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) new President & CEO Stephen Moret for a regional familiarity tour of the southern half of the Richmond MSA.

VEDP leads Virginia’s marketing efforts to businesses both domestically and internationally, negotiating incentives with companies planning large capital investment and significant job creation. A close partner of VGR, VEDP works to bring more jobs to the Commonwealth.

A respected member of the community was recognized by the region’s leading economic development organization for his tireless efforts to support Dinwiddie and help to support the group in its efforts to spark business growth in the localities they serve.

During last month’s regular meeting of the Dinwiddie Board of Supervisors, members of Virginia’s Gateway Region board of directors presented a resolution in recognition of Milton Hargrave, Jr., praising him and giving him a heartfelt thank you for his many years of service to the board, which came to an end in December of last year.

A local aluminum manufacturer recently unwrapped an eight-figure expansion of its operations – and more growth could be in the works.

Service Center Metals completed a $25 million upgrade and addition to its facility at 5850 Quality Way in the SouthPoint Business Park in Prince George County.

Run by Richmond resident R. Scott Kelley, SCM produces aluminum rods and bars; tube and pipe; and shapes used in construction, transportation and machinery.

A 25-member council in the Richmond region that will identify projects to receive public money through a new state program includes some well-connected, deep-pocketed names with the ability to open the eyes of politicians.

They include William H. Goodwin Jr., hotelier and rector of the University of Virginia board of visitors, and Richard Cullen, chairman of the law firm McGuireWoods.

They’re among nominees for one of nine new regional councils that are part of a program called GO Virginia.

No one likes to be called names, but sometimes it’s okay.

Much of the name-calling last year about Richmond was appreciated.

CNBC identified Richmond (population 221,000) as one of the 20 top cities in America to start a business.

Zillow described Richmond as a millennial-leaning city, with more of its people in the 23-to-34-year-old age group living alone than any other U.S. metro area, because of the city’s vibrant labor market.

2,800 square miles makes up the Virginia’s Gateway Region, comprised of five counties and three cities between Chesterfield, the Tri-Cities, along with Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex and Surry counties, creating a unique economic opportunity a local group is trying to help localities capitalize on.

Recently, Virginia’s Gateway Region president and CEO Renee Chapline spoke with the Surry Board of Supervisors about the nonprofit organization’s mission along with the value they provide through services and connecting the localities they serve with valuable economic development opportunities.

Exports are the way to go, especially for small to middle-sized businesses, according to a new campaign by local and state economic development officials.

“We have an exciting new program,” says Garrett Hart, director of the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority.

Dubbed the Metro Richmond Exports Initiative, the program offers training and advice for companies interested in selling to other countries. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership is putting $150,000 into the program. J.P. Morgan, a major international bank, is matching the money.

About 175 students from Peabody Middle School and Blandford Academy and roughly 900 Petersburg High School students got a chance to meet face-to-face with career professionals from around the Tri-Cities Tuesday during the first annual Career and Technical Education college and career fair.