CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The recent announcement of the University of Virginia’s sixth university-level institution brought interested leaders from Albemarle County to the Rotunda Room. The UVA National Security Data and Policy Institute’s founding director Phil Potter acknowledged personnel there from Rivanna Station in Albemarle County, which is the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center. Albemarle County has purchased 426-acres of land it’s calling Rivanna Station Futures for an expansion of military and intelligence operations there, and County Executive Jeff Richardson attended the ribbon-cutting along with Deputy County Executive Trevor Henry and Economic Development Director Emily Kilroy.

Richardson told CvilleRightNow the county is currently working with the federal and state governments, as well as the University of Virginia, “all looking for the appropriate level of alignment for Rivanna Station for their future success”. Richardson said the county certainly didn’t know about these new institute efforts while comprising the Rivanna Station Futures plan. But he says this new UVA initiative brings more attention to the proximity of Charlottesville to DC for federal government support efforts. He and Potter both say this area is close enough for a daytrip from and back to the DC area, but far enough away from the Beltway noise. He says Rivanna Station Futures could house academic institutions, private partners, or federal government DOD agencies. The UVA and DOD ventures comprise the two top industry employers in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area.