From Growth to Community: Our Top 5 Hanover Stories in 2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to revisit the stories that resonated most with our community. These highlights reflected the energy, milestones, and memorable moments that defined the past year.

Thank you, Hanover County, for your continued support and partnership throughout 2025. We’re excited for all that 2026 will bring! Here’s a look back at this year’s standout stories:

Crescent Business Center to Expand in Hanover County, VA

Merritt Properties, a full-service commercial real estate developer with over 21 million square feet of space throughout Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, announced on March 17, 2025 that it has just broken ground on an expansion at Crescent Business Center in the district of Ashland, VA. Phase I of the expansion, comprised of the first two buildings, will deliver summer 2025 with the first building 90% pre-leased to Agiliti and CB Flooring. 

Cascades Bear Island Plant in Hanover County, VA Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Cascades Inc., headquartered in Québec, Canada, is celebrating its 2nd anniversary of the start-up of its Bear Island mill located in Ashland, Virginia.  Founded in 1964, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions, and employs 10,000 women and men who work in nearly 70 facilities in North America.  The Bear Island plant produced its first roll of 100% recycled containerboard on May 2, 2023, following a conversion project that transformed it into a state-of-the-art mill.

Celebrating the First Annual Heart of Hanover, VA Business Contest Award Winners

The Heart of Hanover Business Awards have officially crowned their first-ever winners!  This prestigious new tradition is dedicated to recognizing the local businesses that make Hanover County not just a great place to live, but a thriving hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community connection.  These awards are truly special because they are entirely driven by the community—nominated and voted on by the public.

Hanover County Celebrates Business Award Recipients

On June 11, 2025, Hanover County proudly honored its longstanding businesses and innovative leaders at The Heart of Hanover Business Awards, celebrating the recipients of the esteemed Marc S. Weiss Award, the new Building Design and Improvement Award and the Legacy Business Awards.

Helping Hanover Businesses Stay Prepared: Emergency & Disaster Planning Resources

In the business world, preparation isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Unexpected emergencies, whether caused by natural disasters, cyberattacks, or other disruptions, can pose significant risks to your operations, employees, and bottom line. That’s why we at Hanover County Economic Development are excited to unveil our new Emergency & Disaster Planning Resources page—a dedicated toolkit to support businesses in building resilience and thriving through uncertainty.