December 21, 2009 - Hanwha announced a second major expansion of their manufacturing facility in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park.  “This new expansion will increase the company’s total investment in Opelika to approximately $43 million,” according to a press release issued by the City of Opelika.

December 2, 2009 - A Sonata that rolled down the assembly line at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery this week marked the one-millionth made at the plant  -- a huge milestone for Hyundai in Alabama.

Hyundai has become a major economic engine for Montgomery and central Alabama and the company and its employees now play huge roles in all facets of many central Alabama communities, not just Montgomery.

9-25-2009  Photographs from the Official Grand Opening of Hyatt Place Germantown --  new Gobal Hyatt hotel by Silver Companies and MMI Hotel Group.

9-21-2009  Auburn-Opelika is #9 on Business Week's Top 10 list of America's Strongest Building Markets. The Auburn metro, located near Atlanta, Birmingham and Montgomery, is home to Auburn University and Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Grand National.  It also is the home of Celebrate Alabama, Silver Companies' 535-acre retail, entertainment and attractions destination currently in the early stages of development.

Multifamily building permits rose 688% during the first six months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - Conscious Security Inc. will move its headquarters from Fredericksburg to Silver Companies' Quantico Corporate Center in Stafford County.

“This new location will allow Conscious Security to showcase our talents and provide greater convenience to our clients and partners by putting us within easy reach,” said Kevin McTarsney, CEO of Conscious Security.

The Quantico Corporate Center campus is being developed by Fredericksburg-based Silver Cos. and is expected to include one million square feet of Class A office space. Construction of a third 140,000-square-foot facility is expected start by the end of the year.

Monday July 27, 2009 -  The Marine Corps Systems Command is the latest tenant to sign for space at Quantico Corporate Center in Stafford County.  The command took 19,998 square feet at 1000 Corporate Dr., which is one of two office buildings that has been built on the campus so far..

More than 100,000 square feet has been leased at Quantico Corporate Center since November 2008 to such defense companies as EG&G, a division of URS Corp., General Dynamics and BAE Systems.

8-5-2009  Hyatt Hotel, MMI Hotel Group and Silver Companies announce the opening of Hyatt Place Germantown, a newly-built hotel designed to let business travelers have it all -- from a 42” flat-panel HDTV with plug-and-play capability, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed™, an eight-foot sectional sofa-sleeper and an ergonomic work table in every room to complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, Starbucks© coffee drinks, 24-hour guest kitchen and fitness center and over 1,000 square feet of meeting space. 

The hotel is conveniently located on Winchester at Forest Hill Irene Road, a short distance from FedEx World Headquarters, Crew Training International and many other top companies. 

For reservations, please call 901 759 1174 ext. 3 or go to www.hyattplace.com.

6-23-2009  About 20,000 people came to Wegmans in Celebrate Virginia for opening day, a company spokeswoman said.

To put that number in perspective, the population of Fredericksburg was estimated at 22,291 as of a 2007 count by the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

6-22-2009  Wegmans wows big first-day crowd: At least one family traveled 70 minutes to Fredericksburg to be there for Opening Day of Wegmans in Celebrate Virginia.  Visitors enjoyed sampling, exploring, people-watching  and, of course, shopping at the brand new 139,000 square foot store.

The Freelance Star described the right side of the grocery phenomenon as "something of a gastronome's theme park. There's a coffee bar, a patisserie, a sushi station, a sit-down seafood bar with wine and beer by the glass, a burrito and panini bar, a kosher deli, a crab-cake counter, and a Thai and Indian buffet, among other things."

6-16-2009  Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. announced expansion plans for two Opelika/Auburn companies -- Cumberland Plastic Systems, LLC and Donaldson Company, Inc.  The news comes on the heels of Seohan Auto USA Corporation and Seohan-NTN Driveshaft USA Corporation announcing plans to expand production at their existing Auburn facility and add about 75 employees in the next two years.

“The fact that this is our third industry expansion announcement in the last two weeks tells me we are doing something right with the companies we are recruiting,” Ham said in a statement.

6-10-2009  Celebrate Alabama salutes Auburn for being one the 10 best places to live in the United States, according to a ranking released this week by U.S. News & World Report magazine. The Silver Companies' 535 retail, entertainment and attractions location is being built in the Opelika/Auburn market. 

U.S. News called Auburn a "diamond" with "mild winters and hot summers," and said Auburn University drives the culture and the economy. "...the city offers no shortage of outdoor recreation opportunities," the magazine said.

5-2-2009  Time to stretch out and enjoy good times and good tunes at the Celebrate Virginia Live summer concert season. If you missed the first show, you still have several more chances. Go to http://www.celebratevirginialive.com/ for a complete schedule, the latest information and more.

Stephanie and Howard Bowman snuggle during the first act at the Celebrate Virginia Live show last night.	Wailers' drummer Anthony Watson and 'Elan' work the crowd that turned out for the first concert of the Celebrate Virginia Live series.	Susan Furman of Tappahannock enjoys the music of The Wailers during the first concert of the Celebrate Virginia Live series last night.
ROBERT A. MARTIN / THE FREE LANCE-STAR	ROBERT A. MARTIN / THE FREE LANCE-STAR	ROBERT A. MARTIN / THE FREE LANCE-STAR

DON'T MISS A SHOW! GO TO CELEBRATEVIRGINIALIVE.COM TO GET YOUR SEASON PASS NOW!

4-30-2009  Celebrate Virginia Live will bring top-notch national touring acts to Silver Companies' Celebrate Virginia project in Fredericksburg. Music will include Rock, Classic Rock, Jam, Country, Alternative and more. The season begins on Friday 5/1 and will run for a minimum of eight shows. Season passes are now available. 

Music acts include:  The Wailers, Keller Williams, Gin Blossoms and TONIC, Toad The Wet, Sprocket/Eddie From Ohio, Little Feat, Dark Star Orchestra, ZOSO, Jo Dee Messina, Travis Tritt

2009 sponsors include:  Miller Lite, Bailey's, Hampton Inn & Suites at Celebrate Virginia, Homewood Suites at Celebrate Virginia, Famous Daves, Papa John's Pizza and Capital Ale House

Connor's Heroes is the Official Charity of Celebrate Virginia Live!  Connor's Heroes is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization deditcated to conquering childhood cancer: http://www.connorsheroes.org/

4-29-2009  Quantico Corporate Center (QCC) continues to grow, luring more defense contractors despite sluggish economy.

4-17-2009  Since November, Silver Companies has leased an additional 100,000 sq. ft. of Quantico Corporate Center. Building 1 is completely leased with Building 2 80% leased. Construction on Building 3 is expected to begin in mid-2010, with delivery roughly nine months later. At roughly 140,000 square feet and four-stories, building 3 will be similar to the first two.

At completion, Quantico Corporate Center is expected to boast one million sq. ft. of Class A office space.

4-7-2009  WTVM news channel 9 reported a story confirming what Silver Companies officials have long felt, and which was among the chief reasons why it chose Opelika/Auburn as the site for its latest Celebrate destination: I-85 corridor provides prime real estate for hotels.

The planned Celebrate Alabama retail, entertainment and attractions destination lies directly along I-85 and covers the entire 2-mile stretch between exits 64 and 66. Current plans call for four hotels to be built within the 535-acre project.

3-25-2009  Forbes ranks the Auburn area #1 in job growth projections nationwide on its "Best Small Places for Business and Careers" List.  

Combining job growth projections with cost of doing business, education attainment and population metrics, Auburn further stands out as one of Forbes' Top 10 Best Small Places for Business and Careers.

3-19-2009  Two Alabama metro areas made the Census Bureau's list of the 100 fastest-growing metro areas from 2007 to 2008: Huntsville and Auburn-Opelika.

3-10-2009  BAE Systems now has a second division moving into Silver Companies' Quantico Corporate Center. Between the two divisions, BAE is leasing 45,237 sq. ft. and will have 170 employees working on site. Silver Companies will finish its second building this month with the third building at Quantico Corporate Center currently in site plan review. 

At completion, Quantico Corporate Center is expected to boast one million sq. ft. of Class A office space.

3-7-2009  Workers with security clearances may get a Fredericksburg-area telework center. George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC), a company that co-operates three secure telework centers, is seeking to build one closer to Quantico.

Silver Companies' Quantico Corporate Center is located just outside of the south gate to Quantico Marine Corps Base. Access to this eighty-five acre campus is available via US Rte.1 or just seconds away from Interstate 95, exit 148.

3-3-2009  In spite of the current economy, Silver Companies and Spotsyvania County officials are working toward a solution that would allow critical infrastructure work to be completed for the 126-bed Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center currently under development.  With loans harder to come by, an alternate solution is being sought so work will be complete by the time the hospital opens in May 2010.

2-15-2009  Chicago Tribune reporter Steve Mills gives props to Alabama golfing, citing breathtaking views, world-class golf courses, and affordable green fees. His favorite location along the state's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail? Grand National in Opelika, of course, with its two courses the Lake and Links.

Since the first trail stops opened in the early 1990s, Alabama tourism has seen healthy increases, rising by about 4 million visitors from 2000 to 2007 alone, topping out at 22.4 million. Not surprisingly, the trail is said to get people more golf than they get elsewhere.

Celebrate Alabama is proud that it will be one of Grand National's neighbors; it too was one of the elements that made Opelika so attractive. Thanks Steve!

2-24-2009  Silver Companies Vice President Jervis Hairston, whose family is the subject of a critically acclaimed book on slavery, conducts tours of historic slavery sites in Fredericksburg. Germanna Community College and others dedicated to continuing education participate. 

2-21-2009  The newest addition to Silver Companies'  Quantico Corporate Center is a technology center run by MTCSC Inc. that allows companies and universities to work together developing products for government clients.

Two of MTCSC's biggest clients are the Marine Corps and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. Among the company's business partners are Google, Microsoft, CommVault and VMware. The company has also discussed partnering with George Mason University, the University of Mary Washington and Virginia Tech.

1-2-2009  Last year proved to be one of growth and development for the city of Opelika, and Mayor Gary Fuller said he expects the new year to hold more of the same. Besides tremendous industrial growth, two major developments in Opelika began site preparation or construction in 2008 — the 535-acre Celebrate Alabama project and the $32 million Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center, slated to open by late July.

In addtion, “there’s more activity and more construction in downtown Opelika than I’ve ever seen,” Fuller said.

12-3-2008  While Stafford County has traditionally "sold itself" as a prime location, businesses might soon have still more reason to locate here. The County is proactively taking a look at such incentive programs as Technology Zones. "We may need an additional tool in this tough economy," said Deputy County Administrator Tim Baroody.  "Anything we can do in-house without additional costs that encourages economic development is good," supervisor Paul Milde said.

Silver Companies' Celebrate Virginia project is located along I-95 in both Stafford County and Fredericksburg, Va. Celebrate Virginia has already incorporated two residential developments into its massive 2,400-acre retail, entertainment and attractions destination. One of its next phases will incorporate a corporate campus so that employers can enjoy proximity and a highly-educated workforce at less cost than D.C. and employees can enjoy reverse commutes and great amenities.

11-16-2008  With the $4.5 billion complex now a year past groundbreaking, activity is increasing rapidly at the ThyssenKrupp site in north Mobile county, Alabama. Scott Bridge Co. of Opelika is leading efforts to build a dock for the complex, and is one of the many Alabama suppliers working on the massive project. ThyssenKrupp has awarded $1 billion in other contracts, with half that amount going to Alabama suppliers. Overall, ThyssenKrupp says it has awarded 30 percent of the bids it plans.

Beginning operations are expected to commence a little more than a year from now. According to the ThyssenKrupp web site, the Alabama facility will operate 24 hours per day and employ 2,700 people once fully operational.

11-16-2008  Silver Companies' choice for its next signature "Celebrate" location continues to attract projects that bring investment and jobs to Alabama even during tough economic times. Mobile Countr recieves encouraging news from two companies -- Austal USA has a new potential $1.6 billion contract to build high speed transport vessels for the Pentagon and Evonik Degussa is also considering the plant for two other expansions that would result in adding 20 other jobs.

11-15-2008  Two of Forbes top 10 rankings of the Best Places to Live Now (In these economic times): are Alabama Counties with one taking first place honors: #1 Madison County and #7 Mobile County.

Affordable housing, job openings and low property taxes make Madison County the country's top place to live while weathering the economic downturn, according to a new Forbes report. Low unemployement, ease of commute, a diverse local economy were other factors.

11-13-2008  Silver team members Phillip Baxter and David Newman secured another tenant for Quantico Corporate Center, leasing 25,400 sq. ft. to General Dynamics. With its proximity to Quantico Marine Base, Silver's Center is uniquely positioned to meet the real estate needs for Base vendors and related industries, not to mention other businesses who serve those residing in or near Stafford County or desire the advantage of being close to D.C.

Silver Companies' Quantico Corporate Center site is within a 30-minute drive to Washington, DC and the Pentagon.

10-30-2008   About half a billion dollars in defense procurement contracts flowed to companies in the Fredericksburg area last year, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. As a result, money is also flowing to hundreds of area support companies for goods and services.

The foundation is only growing stronger: Four years ago, according to the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, there were about 350 contractors; today there are more than 800. Thanks to its proximity to the seat of government, numerous military bases and other factors, Virginia has been a magnet for defense contractors, with many area workers commuting to jobs at the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir and a host of other defense jobs in Northern Virginia.

"All of that contracting is important, and you're building on a nice base there," said Stephen Fuller, director of the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, and as a result, "it's given the Fredericksburg region an economy stronger than its population would have supported on its own."

10-24-2008   A growing number of individuals and businesses continue to move away from the Washington area into the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania and the city of Fredericksburg. Local officials say that in the last 18 months, close to $300 million of new investment has been announced, including the Kalahari resort coming to Celebrate Virginia and the medical office campus.

Quanitco, BRAC realignments, Virginia Railway Express, and quality housing and education are also listed as benefits to the area where Silver Companies' Celebrate Virginia is located. The retail, entertainment and attractions destination spans property on both sides of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg and Stafford County and along I-95. 

10-17-2008  Celebrate Alabama's home town recieves more great news as Opelika's own Robert Trent Jones Grand National Golf Course is named the #1 Public Course in the country by GolfWorld magazine. Comments on GolfWorld.com include: The Senator is "as close to Scotland as you can get in Alabama," so remember to "keep it in the short grass." You'll love the "super playing surfaces, nice facilities and staff and great service." It's "golf heaven."

Grand National Golf Course is 11 minutes from Montgomery, AL and 19 minutes from Montgomery Regional Airport (Dannelly Field).

10-16-2008  Silver Companies CEO Larry Silver spoke Thursday during an Opelika Chamber of Commerce members breakfast at Saugahatchee Country Club. New developments for Celebrate Alabama include efforts to secure an indoor water park hotel and an expressed interest in the project by at least one person with local ties — Bo Jackson.  No official announcements were made, however, as the project is just getting underway.

Silver Companies has begun clearing the site and is on schedule, Silver said. “We are getting ready any day — any week — to get our final Corps (of Engineers) permit.” The company will soon begin selling land-use bonds to fund the infrastructure for the site, Silver added.

10-16-2008  The National Infantry Museum moves closer to its March 2009 Grand Opening in Columbus, Ga. and invites people to recognize their own heroes  through commemorative pavers. The pavers will form a walkway on the Museum's grounds connecting the Museum to Patriot Park.

10-14-2008  Despite a difficult financial climate, Silver-McCann successfully closed an attractive, long-term mortgage loan that both reduced current debt service on one of its apartment properties and provided additional capital to Silver-McCann Apartment Group. 

10-12-2008  A  $28 million National Park Service memorial opened in Macon County, Alabama, within an easy drive of Celebrate Alabama in Lee County, Alabama. Estimated to draw thousands of new visitors each year, the memorial helps pay tribute to the brave African Americans who fought for our nation during World War II.

10-1-2008  - Touted as the largest event in the Fredericksburg area "with a who's who list of vendors", the Fredericksburg Expo Center at Celebrate Virginia kicks off the Holiday season with its Fall Arts & Crafts Festival October 11 - 12.

9-17-2008  Regal Entertainment Group announces plans to renovate its Central Park movie theater while two other companies cast their eyes to Fredericksburg as a potential future location - Muvico Entertainment and Frank Theatres. 

"We think Fredericksburg is a growth area," said Bruce Frank, president of Frank Theaters. "We like what it represents for the future of entertainment."

9-10-2008  Clearing of Silver Companies' 535-acre retail, entertainment and attractions destination Celebrate Alabama is starting with site and roadway construction which will begin “within days.” The final details of the construction contract and are being worked out, and the permits from the Corps of Engineers are expected to follow within the next two months. Celebrate Alabama will span property near Interstate 85 between Exits 64 and 66 in Opelika. The project is expected to have retail stores, restaurants, hotels, a 100,000-square-foot expo center, a music hall and a five-screen, drive-in theater.

Silver Companies CEO Larry Silver has said it will probably take up to 18 months to prepare the Celebrate Alabama site before structural construction can begin. It will then take more than two years before the first business opens, he said.

8-12-08 More good news for the home of Silver Companies' Celebrate Alabama project. Opelika-Auburn news editorial gets behind improvements for the Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport proclaiming: "We are a community of growth and progress... When corporate executives fly into the community for the first time, we want to give them a good first impression.

...We want to show them we are a community dedicated to progress, dedicated to quality and dedicated to a commitment of excellence. "

...We can tout quality education, a strong work force and a perfect geographic location in regards to Atlanta and Montgomery when trying to lure industry and jobs into the area, but we must also show these executives we are committed to their needs."

9-18-2008  The first building delivered by Silver Companies' for its Quantico Corporate Center is now fully leased. BAE Systems will occupy 33,055 square feet with 130 workers expected to work there initally; the defense giant said it may eventually have 167 employees at the site to support the $94 million Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity Omnibus Support contract.

8-4-2008   MTC Services Corp. expanded its space at Silver Companies' Quantico Corporate Center by nearly 16,000 square feet, bringing the tenant's total to a current 57,707 square feet.

8-23-2008  Interest builds for Quanitco Corporate Center with construction on its second 140,000-square-foot building expected to be completed by March 1.

8-22-2008 - 20-year industry veteran Mark Ambach has joined Silver Companies as President of Silver Capital Real Estate Funds.  Silver Capital, LLC, the private equity arm of Silver Companies, organizes funds that invest in commercial and residential real estate.  During the last five years Silver Capital has originated more than $1 billion of equity and debt financing for the acquisition and development of real estate projects.

8-19-2008 - Silver-McCann Apartment Group II, L.P. enters the Houston, Texas market with the acquisition of Villas at West Road Apartments. With this purchase, Silver Capital (a division of Silver Companies) and McCann Realty Partners add the fifth and final asset to their latest apartment investment fund, Silver-McCann Apartment Group II, L.P.  Their second fund closes with total acquisitions of $154 million made over the past 18 months.  Since Silver-McCann made its first acquisition in 2005, its two funds have acquired close to 3,200 apartment homes. 

8-15-2008  Washington Business Journal touts the 85-acre Quantico Corporate Center, just outside the south gate of the Marine Corps base straddling I-95, as one of the high-profile new developments under way in Stafford. WBJ also calls the move of Globe and Laurel restaurant to Quanitco a symbol of changes underway in Prince William, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, namely that the area is transforming to an extension of metro Washington D.C.  Location benefits and signs of additional growth explored.

7-16-2008 - Regarding news that a $200 million Kalahari Resort will be built in Silver Companies' flagship "Celebrate" project located in Fredericksburg -- Celebrate Virginia -- City Economic Development Director Kevin Gullette said it will "completely redefine us as a tourism destination."

According to the Madison State Journal as reported by the Freelance Star, the Kalahari will sit on 49 acres next to the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center. The project includes a 125,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, 100,000 square feet of conference space, and 700 guest rooms and suites. And the development to be announced is expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the city.

7-15-2008 -  During the last five years Silver Capital, the private equity arm of Silver Companies, has originated more than $1 billion of equity and debt financing for real estate projects owned by Silver Companies and its funds. As Silver's newest Senior Financial Analyst, Jarad Scher will be responsible for evaluating investment opportunities and structuring ventures with developers and strategic partners.  Scher will also be responsible for asset management, including business planning, budgeting and investor reporting.

6-30-2008 - Silver-McCann Apartment Group II, L.P. increases portfolio in Metropolitan Atlanta, acquiring Villas at South Point apartments in McDonough, Georgia. Fund will close after next acquisition expected to bring total investments over a year-and-a-half to more than $150 million.

6-21-2008 - Virginians find numerous reasons to celebrate the Wegman's food market concept, with its Celebrate Virginia location slated to open next summer on land adjacent to that of the hotels and convention campus. 

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.

6-20-2008 - Silver Companies' Hyatt Place currently under construction in Germantown, Tennessee helps fill the area's need for hotel and meeting space, according to Pat Scroggs, executive director of the Germantown Chamber of Commerce, naming FedEx Corp as an example of the companies bringing more business and residents to the area and Germantown Horse Show, Germantown Festival and soccer events at Mike Rose Soccer Complex as among the draws that may benefit.

For now, Hyatt Place will become the immediate area's flagship hotel says local hotel consultant Chuck Pinkowski, adding "this is the first public building being developed at that intersection, and it is a high quality product servicing Collierville and Germantown." In addition to the Hyatt Place, Silver Companies is developing three outparcels designated for restaurants and shops to complement the hotel.

6-11-2008  Seohan opens its $20 million facility in Auburn, just one of many Kia and Hyundai suppliers "popping up all over the area" and making even more jobs available for Auburn-Opelika area residents.

"It's a further commitment to the automotive industry and high technology based jobs in Auburn, Lee County, east Alabama and west Georgia," said Auburn Mayor Bill Ham.

Auburn is next door to Opelika, Ala., the location of Silver Companies' next signature Celebrate destination: Celebrate Alabama.

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."

5-19-08 Planning Commission recommends approval of new Silver Companies development "Shiloh Crossing Retail Center" in King George County. Proponents cite tax income and convenient shopping closer to home for young families as among benefits.

5-9-08 While Forest Hill has long established itself as a high-end residential market, commercial developers in the area are beginning to see the fruits of their investment.  Area's demographics are a big draw -- With an average annual household income of $110,000, it's one of the wealthiest in the western part of Tennessee."

Silver Companies just began work on a 10+ acre site at the corner of Forest Hill Irene and Winchester Roads. The master developer broke ground on Tennessee's first new build Hyatt Place hotel earlier this month, which will anchor four additional parcels. Restaurant and retail concepts for the remaining parcels are currently being explored. Prospects should call 561-981-5252.

5-9-08 Silver Companies and Burroughs & Chapin Co. announce new plans for their joint venture under Copper Lakes LLC.  The planned Copper Lakes community in northern Greenville County will have approximately 550 home sites, a working farm and public market. The area's natural beauty, numerous lakes, river access, and varying topography will be a central focus.

5-7-08 Silver Companies breaks ground on a $20 million+ project -- a four-story, 127-room Hyatt Place in Germantown, Tenn. Restaurants and an extended-stay hotel are being considered for parcels adjacent to the new Hyatt Place.

5-6-08 Silver Companies CEO Larry D. Silver together with City of Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and MMI Hotel Group Co-Chairman Earle Jones Break Ground on Hyatt Place Germantown. Construction expected to Start May 19th.

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.

4-3-08   The Auburn-Opelika area rose 15 places in the U.S. Census Bureau's list of the 100 fastest growing areas in the country, moving up from #89 in 2007 to claim the #74 spot in 2008.  Web site Forbes.com named the Auburn-Opelika area one of the fastest-growing metro areas earlier this year.

3-21-2008 - Forbes.com states that “Stafford County has a proven ability to land federal jobs and companies with government contracts, as well as to attract businesses from all over the country…”  Earlier this year, Forbes.com also recognized Stafford as the 11th wealthiest county in the United States. Silver Companies' Celebrate Virginia project sits in both Fredericksburg, Va./Spotsylvania County and Stafford County.

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."

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."

3-7-08 Two new companies that will supply the new Kia plant being constructed close to Celebrate Alabama break ground. The projects by AJIN USA and MP Tech America represent a combined capital investment of $110 million and 700 new jobs. Chambers County, where the companies have located, adjoins Lee County, where Celebrate Alabama is located along I-85.

Alabama has now won eight new Kia suppliers, and 14 Hyndai suppliers in Alabama have expanded their operations to also supply Kia.

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.

2-20-08 Fitch Ratings assigns an 'A+' rating to Stafford County, Va.'s $49.5 million Economic Development Authority lease revenue bonds, series 2008. The long-term 'AA-' rating reflects Stafford County's strong economic growth, fueled by its location along the Interstate 95 corridor between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Va., and good prospects for further development; low unemployment rate; moderate debt burden and manageable capital program; and variable financial results.

Among the Silver Companies projects located within Stafford County is Celebrate Virginia North, part of the 2,400-acre retail, entertainment and attractions destination that is also North America's Largest Retail Resort.