6-19-2008 - The Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center at Celebrate Virginia will be "rally central," said Rally Coordinator Dick Becker, with approximately 1,440 people pre-registered for the Virginia Harley-Davidson rally and another several hundred expected to register in person. 

The three hotels adjacent to the Expo Center are mostly booked up through Saturday nights, according to Matt Addis, assistant general manager for the Homewood Suites by Hilton. Early birds started arriving Monday. Rally participants have already booked nearly 900 room nights, Becker said.

Becker said last year's rally in Williamsburg generated about $2.1 million in local economic impact, and about $100,000 in tax revenue. Although estimated attendance is expected to be about 20 percent lower this year due in part to the economic slowdown and higher gas prices, this year's rally should also generate solid tax revenue for the city.

6-2-2008 - Silver Companies is in the process of taking bids from contractors to grade the site, according to CEO Larry D. Silver. “We have a massive grading job,” he said, adding that it was the second largest grading project in the area, trailing only the Kia plant in West Point, Ga.

Summer 2008 - Magazine touts Celebrate Alabama as "the missing piece of the puzzle."

5-17-08 Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center in Celebrate Virginia serves as hub for half marathon that accounted for $2.3 million in tax revenue when race ran in 2006 in Arlington & Washington. While Fredericksburg officials know they won't see the same numbers, an economic boost from all the activities is welcome and expected. Events are planned to showcase both the historic downtown area of Fredericksburg and to draw them to the retail mecca of Central Park and the adjoining tourism development of Celebrate Virginia. More than 600 hotel rooms booked and crowds in excess of 24,000 anticipated with more than 6,000 runners from across the nation registered to participate.

"The whole region will benefit from this," said Fredericksburg economic development director Kevin Gullette. "I think everybody's going to feel the spillover."

4-23-08 Kalahari Resorts in Celebrate Virginia wins six of seven votes from Fredericksburg City Council members. City ordinances necessary to distribute tax-based incentives pass.

4-9-08 Kalahari project draws overwhelming support during public hearing. Kalahari's potential to create jobs prasied along with the wide impact that its $230 million project will have in the local economy.

3-19-08 Consultant calls Kalahari the "gold standard" of water park hotel operators, and said its claims that it will generate nearly $6 million in new annual tax revenue for the city are reasonable. 

"There really is very limited direct risk to the city, which is very important," said James Prost, of Maryland-based Basile, Baumann, Prost, Cole & Associates. "A hotel project, and particularly a major resort hotel project like this, is going to bring in net revenue that the city would not otherwise receive."

2-26-08 Local newspaper points to progress in Fredericksburg region; includes Celebrate Virginia South benchmark as example of improvements that bode well for the community.

3-1-08 Uptown Central Park will now be known as Central Park Town Center. Demand for office space in the area together with the conveniences and draws of Celebrate Virginia helps spark new focus to go with a new look:

"One of the things we're finding is that businesses as far away as Richmond and Northern Virginia are interested in coming here, which is exciting," said Rappaport's Simeck. "It's due to the two new hospitals that are coming and the location midway between Richmond and Washington. With the [Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center] and all the tourism drawn to the area because of that, it's the place to be."