Friends Of Thomas Evelyn

06/12/2026

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

06/05/2026

I am looking forward to working with you.

New Kent County is pleased to announce the appointment of Benming “Benny” Zhang as County Attorney. In this role, Zhang serves as chief legal counsel to the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, County departments, and constitutional officers in matters involving local government operations, policy, and public service to the citizens of New Kent County. Zhang joined County staff June 1, 2026.

“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I’d like to welcome Mr. Zhang to New Kent County,” said Board Chairman Ron Stiers. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome him to staff as his extensive experience in local government makes him the perfect fit to support our County as we continue to grow."

Prior to joining New Kent County, Zhang practiced law with Kaufman & Canoles, where he maintained a diverse practice spanning local government, corporate, securities, zoning, real estate, and estate planning matters. During his time at the firm, he notably served as County Attorney for King William County and as outside counsel to the New Kent County Board of Zoning Appeals, succeeding the late James E. “Jim” Hudson, Esq. He also advised publicly traded domestic and international companies and underwriters as part of the firm’s Securities Team.

Zhang previously served as an elected member of the Williamsburg City Council from 2016 to 2020, becoming one of the youngest members ever elected to the body and the first Asian American to serve on the Council. He continues to serve the Commonwealth in judicial appointments as Assistant Commissioner of Accounts for several Virginia localities and as Commissioner in Chancery in Virginia’s Sixth Judicial Circuit.

“Public service has always been deeply meaningful to me, and I am honored by the trust placed in me to serve as New Kent County Attorney,” Zhang said. “I look forward to building upon the County’s strong foundation and serving the citizens of New Kent with integrity, professionalism, and dedication.”

To learn more about Zhang please visit: https://www.newkent-va.us/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/552

05/02/2026

06/30/2025

Great job ladies I mean babies!

Come out July 3rd for the Independence Day celebration from 7:00-10:00 at New Kent High School!

05/23/2025

03/18/2025

Target Corporation to construct 1.4 million SF distribution facility in New Kent County

Target Corporation intends to expand their operations to New Kent at the exit 211 interchange along Interstate 64. The company plans to construct a 1.4 million square foot distribution facility at Forge Logistics in the southwest quadrant of the New Kent City Center site.

“New Kent County staff, the Economic Development Authority and the Board of Supervisors have worked tirelessly over the past several years to draw major players, such as Target Corporation, to our community. The return on investment is starting to show for our efforts as this Fortune 500 Company makes New Kent its newest location for a fifth distribution center in the Commonwealth,” said New Kent County Board of Supervisors Chair, Thomas W. Evelyn.

“Virginia continues to attract strategic investments from nationally-known companies, like Target, and this benefits all Virginians,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “This announcement further underscores how the Commonwealth’s pro-business environment is bringing new jobs and investment to Virginia. The Port of Virginia and Target have built a productive relationship over the years and we look forward to continuing to serve as the company’s logistics provider.”

The property, purchased earlier this month, is marketed by Scannell, a privately owned, international commercial real estate development firm specializing in build-to-suit and speculative projects for the industrial, office, and multifamily markets. The company anticipates moving forward with the construction project by the end of March 2025. AutoZone, Inc. will be Target’s neighbor to the north at the New Kent City Center site.

“We are excited to welcome Target to New Kent County,” said New Kent County Administrator Rodney A. Hathaway. “This substantial investment and the creation of hundreds of high-quality jobs is a tremendous economic boost for our community and region. New Kent has made a commitment to infrastructure, education, and workforce development, and we are confident that Target will benefit from these efforts. We look forward to strengthening our relationship and maintaining a business environment that will foster the continued growth and success of this company.”

Doug Smith, President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance, an organization with which New Kent County recently joined in partnership, said, “We congratulate Target on the opening of their new facility in New Kent, a testament to Virginia’s strategic advantages as a premier logistics and distribution hub. With Hampton Roads’ world-class port infrastructure, robust transportation network, and skilled workforce, companies like Target can thrive and efficiently serve their customers. The Hampton Roads Alliance stands ready to support our partners at New Kent County and The Port of Virginia as we continue to attract and grow world-class businesses in our region.”

Target Corporation is an American retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores and hypermarkets, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the seventh-largest retailer in the United States. Target Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that ranks among the largest American-owned private employers in the United States. In 2024, Target was ranked 37th on the Fortune 500 list by total revenue.

02/21/2025

Press release regarding Colonial Downs.

This Saturday, the General Assembly will vote on amendments to the Commonwealth’s biennial budget. If approved, these changes will alter how New Kent County receives revenue from live racing and historic horse racing machines, taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Currently, the county gets a share of proceeds from all historic horse racing facilities around the Commonwealth. Under the new proposal, that revenue would be replaced with a $110,000 per live racing day “limited license tax” paid directly to New Kent by the operator of the horse track. This tax would be in addition to the county’s existing share of revenue from historic horse racing machines located within New Kent and would bring in more than $5 million per year coming to New Kent, in addition to what is generated at the track. If approved by the General Assembly and Governor Glenn Youngkin, this change would take effect on July 1, 2026.

“Here in New Kent County, we know a thing or two about horse racing—we’ve been in this game for over 30 years. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that a strong, thriving New Kent County is the foundation for live racing in Virginia. You can’t have one without the other,” said New Kent County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas W. Evelyn recently.

“When folks come out to Colonial Downs for horse races, they’re coming to our community,” he continued. “It’s our roads they travel, our deputies keeping them safe, our fire and EMS crews standing by, and our local businesses welcoming them in. That’s why the revenue coming to New Kent County isn’t just about us—it’s about keeping this whole horse racing ecosystem running strong. When we invest in our community, we’re investing in live racing, making sure every race day at Colonial Downs is bigger and better than the last.”

“We’re grateful to Senator Ryan McDougle for recognizing the connection between New Kent and live horse racing and for working out a solution to make sure New Kent has the resources we need to support this industry,” Evelyn said. “We believe that this solution makes good, common sense. The more races that are run, the more folks come through our county, and that means more strain on our local services. We’re proud to be home to live racing in Virginia, but we’ve got to have the resources to keep our community safe and running strong. This setup makes sure we’re keeping pace with the growth of the industry and that everybody—racetrack, county, and community—wins together.”

“We’ve been proud to be the home to Colonial Downs home for decades, and we look forward to a long and prosperous future together,” Evelyn concluded. “Because when New Kent does well, live racing in Virginia does well, and that’s a win for everybody. We are grateful to the New Kent legislative delegation for their support throughout this process.”

Pictured below are Evelyn (left) with First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin at Rosie's Gaming and Colonial Downs in September 2022.

02/01/2025

Congratulations to the New Kent High School boys’ basketball team on another win tonight against Bruton! Go Trojans!

01/28/2025

County Administrator, Rodney Hathaway and I attended a Finance Committee meeting at the General Assembly this morning.

Big thanks to Sen. Ryan McDougle for standing up for New Kent County and protecting our Historic Horse Racing revenue share. Years back, our county took a gamble on that racetrack, and now we’re seeing the pay-off for our community. Hard work like his keeps small counties like ours moving forward, and we sure do appreciate it!

01/20/2025

It is our duty to help one another in times of crisis. New Kent county was compensated for the water as well.

During the Richmond Water Crisis, Liesfeld Contractor stepped up to support hospitals, municipalities, and partners by delivering tankers of water to those in need. One of our key collaborators was New Kent County, which played a crucial role by providing a vital water supply to Liesfeld Contractor during the shortage.

As the crisis extended further into the Richmond region, New Kent County worked swiftly with Liesfeld Contractor to ensure critical water access, particularly for essential services like hospitals.

Thomas W. Evelyn, Chairman of the New Kent County Board of Supervisors, shared, “We understand how challenging this week has been for our neighboring counties affected by the water crisis. Partnering with Liesfeld Contractor to transport potable water from New Kent to Richmond and Henrico for critical areas, including hospitals, was our pleasure. New Kent County is always ready to support our regional counterparts, knowing they would do the same for us if the roles were reversed.”

We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts that helped our region through this challenging time!