Repairs Expected for Pump Station Hit in Car Crash
Grissom Library ground breaking; ice ice baby; latest biz updates
Newport News is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to replace the control room enclosure at Sanitary Sewer Pump Station 009, located at 701 South Ave. The station’s building was demolished down to its base slab after a vehicle strike damaged the housing, electrical controls, and emergency bypass connection, and the project aims to restore the station’s ability to convey sanitary sewer flow to HRSD. It’s unclear from the city’s RFP documents when the crash occurred, but WAVY reported on a driver running into a utility pole and pump station near South and Jefferson Avenues in October 2023.
The work, located at 701 South Ave., includes:
Procuring and installing a pre-engineered building
Cleaning, repairing, and recoating the wet well
Replacing the pump station’s bypass system
Installing HVAC, electrical components, and SCADA equipment
Replacing the guard rail and concrete driveway
Installing concrete bollards
Bids are due August 18 by 2 p.m., and companies have until July 24 to ask questions about the request.
In other news:
Government
City of Newport News Breaks Ground on Grissom Library Project Newport News TV shared a video about the groundbreaking ceremony for Grissom Library in Newport News. The city notes that this event marks an important milestone in the development of the library facility for the community and that the groundbreaking represents the official start of construction on the project..
Ice, Freezer Rentals at Parks and Rec Sites Sought by City in New Bid Request Newport News is accepting bids from companies to supply bagged ice and rent freezers to store it at seven parks and events. The winning company must provide lockable freezers big enough to hold 50 to 60 cubic feet of ice, keep them in working order at no extra charge, and deliver ice within two days of an order, or by noon two days before a scheduled event:
Leeward Marina (year-round)
Newport News Campsites (year-round)
Fall Festival, Newport News Park
Children’s Festival of Friends, Newport News Park
One City Marathon
World Arts
Pop-up events around the city
Officials plan to pick a single company offering the lowest overall price, as long as it meets the requirements. The contract will start at one year, with the option to renew it up to four more times, one year at a time, plus a possible six-month extension after that. The company can ask to raise prices once a year, but only by as much as a federal index tracking ice-industry costs has gone up, and the purchasing office has to approve it. Bids are due July 28 by 3 p.m., and companies have until July 24 to ask questions about the request.
Business
Atlantic Union Bank Expands Peninsula Presence With New Commercial Banking Hire Atlantic Union Bank is expanding its presence on the Peninsula, hiring a new head of its commercial banking team to be based in the bank’s Newport News office, according to information released by the bank. A bank representative, responding to follow-up questions in email correspondence, said the commercial team supports local businesses through capital access, cash management, and treasury services.
Leading the expansion on the Peninsula is Philip Hermann, who joins Atlantic Union Bank as senior vice president, commercial team lead for the virginia peninsula, bringing over two decades of experience, notably at Wells Fargo, to lead a commercial team supporting local businesses through capital access, cash management, and treasury services. Founded in Virginia in 1902, the bank is now a Richmond-based institution with branches throughout Hampton Roads, including Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach, and coverage extending to Williamsburg, Richmond, and the Northern Neck.
Virginia Peninsula Chamber seeks internship program information from local employers The Virginia Peninsula Chamber is asking local businesses and organizations that offer internships to participate in a community resource initiative. The LEAD Alumni Network is developing support materials for regional employers, including a searchable Internship Database available on the Chamber’s website.
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber also announces an upcoming seminar titled “Beyond the Paycheck: What the Data Reveals” scheduled for July 28, 2026. The event will examine 2026 benefits benchmarking results, emerging trends, and strategic insights tailored for Hampton Roads employers. Check out the events page here.
Recreation & Events
Gospel Night Tickets to Go on Sale at Christopher Newport University Christopher Newport University announced that tickets for Gospel Night with Tamela and David Mann go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22. The concert will take place Saturday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. at CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, featuring an evening of gospel, soul and inspiration alongside the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
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