Mrs. Florence G. Kingston

Director for the Department of Development
City of Newport News
2400 Washington Ave., 3rd Fl.
Newport News, Virginia  23607
Phone: (757) 926-8428

Florence Kingston was selected as Director for the Department of Development for the City of Newport News in January of 2003 after being appointed Acting Director in August of 2002.  Mrs. Kingston also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Economic/Industrial Development Authority of the City of Newport News.  She has worked in economic development and small business development for 28 years.  She has been with the City's Department of Development for 26 years and with the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority for two years prior to that.

Mrs. Kingston is directly involved in negotiating and overseeing multi-million dollar development projects including the City Center at Oyster Point mixed-use development, various Shipyard projects Downtown, including the Herbert H. Bateman Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center, the Downtown Engineering Facilities, and numerous other active projects throughout the City.  Promoted to Assistant Director of Planning and Development in 1997, a few of Mrs. Kingston's prior projects include the development of a Facade Improvement project in Downtown Newport News, the distribution of assets from the Regional Redevelopment and Housing Authority and establishment and creation of the Industrial Development Authority, and the financial evaluation of the City's participation in funding the construction of the $25 million Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport terminal.

Florence received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce.  In 1988, she received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.  In 1999, she completed the Certified Planning Commission's course through Virginia Tech.

She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate, the Council of Development Finance Agencies, the Virginia Economic Developers Association, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Tidewater Small Business Financing Authority.  Her civic activities include Treasurer of Girls, Inc. of the Greater Peninsula and she serves on the Boards of People-to-People, Visionarias, and the First United Methodist Church Foundation.

Florence and her husband, George, have been married for 23 years and have a 19 year old daughter named Kasey who is a first year student at University of Virginia.