HU Recognized as a Leading VA Economic Development Organization

Hampton, Va. – The Virginia Chamber of Commerce honored Hampton University with the presentation of the Virginia Torchbearer Award on Dec. 2.  Awarded to Virginia’s leading economic development organizations, the Torchbearer awards were presented at the Virginia Economic Summit, held at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.

Hampton University
Proton Therapy Institute
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Hampton University was presented the award for the establishment of the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI).  HUPTI is the largest of its kind in the world and the eighth proton facility in the U.S. At full operation HUPTI is expected to treat approximately 2,000 cancer patients per year.  HUPTI began treating patients in August and held its grand opening Oct. 21.  

“HUPTI is a unique private and public partnership that brings together health care providers, business, education, the military [Department of Defense] and private sector industry leaders,” said HU President William R. Harvey, the visionary behind the project.  “It is well armed to bring deadly force against the insidious ravages of prostate, breast, ocular, lung, brain, pediatric, and other tumors using its five treatment rooms.”

An economic driver for the Hampton Roads region, during HUPTI’s construction phase 2,000 jobs were created, which generated approximately $12 million for the local economy. The current start-up phase has created 57 jobs, generating over $2.6 million in new employment wages and benefits. When fully operational, HUPTI will provide 127 new technologically advanced value-added jobs for Hampton Roads, which is estimated to produce over $5.1 million in annual employee compensation.

HUPTI will bring approximately 6,000 patients/visitors to the region each year, including patients, families, researchers and workforce trainees. To date, HUPTI has attracted over $12 million in federal and private research funds. The facility is currently generating $1.2 million in property tax revenues alone to the treasury of Virginia.

To highlight the crucial role that Virginia’s economic development organizations play in Virginia’s prosperity and unparalleled attractiveness as a business location, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce sought nominations for the prestigious Virginia Torchbearer Awards.  The purpose was to identify key economic development organizations, local governments and higher educational research institutions that have made a creative innovative and significant contribution to Virginia’s economy.

The Virginia businesses nominated were judged in terms of facilitating new business attraction, business retention and expansion, the creation of new value-added jobs, foreign investment and 21st century revitalization projects.  Twelve winners were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges - ten congressional district winners, one statewide program winner and the Project of the Year.