This year’s crowning achievement was the appointment of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) as a representative of the US-Israel Binational R&D grant program managed by the BIRD Foundation that funds (up to $1.5 million) R&D projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. To date: 25 Virginia Israel partnerships received millions of dollars of BIRD funding.

My thanks to the 20 Commonwealth-wide government and private sector organizations that joined the VIAB-BIRD steering group to promote the grants which will jump start Virginia-Israel partnerships and birth Virginia-based ventures.

I am also grateful to all VIAB partners in a variety of this year’s undertakings including: conducting a space tech event in Arlington; a smart City event in Israel; a VEDP economic development delegation to Israel and reinstituting the Richmond Ballet’s Minds and Motion program in Israel, amongst others.

The most meaningful economic development activity this year was ZIM Shipping expanding its long-term presence in Hampton Roads with a $30 million investment and purchase of new offices in Virginia Beach.

My appreciation to ZIM’s management with whom VIAB worked with for the past two years to facilitate the expansion. and thanks, as well, to the economic development stakeholders, particularly the team in Virginia Beach who shepherded the project to fruition.

Looking forward to the upcoming year with continued close ties to public and private state-wide stakeholders.

/s/ Dov Hoch
Executive Director
Virginia Israel Advisory Board