Rachael Ray thinks Jody's popcorn is yum-o

Rachael Ray featured Jody's Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn, its original-recipe caramel corn drizzled with semisweet and white chocolate, on her nationally syndicated TV show as the "snack of the day."

"Rachael Ray" airs locally at 10 a.m. weekdays on WVEC.

Jody Wagner, former Virginia secretary of finance, and her husband, Virginia Beach ophthalmologist Alan Wagner, founded Jody's in 2005 in a shop on Laskin Road at the Oceanfront. Jody's opened a second store, on Atlantic Avenue, this summer.

The popcorn Ray featured is available in two bag sizes or by the tub at the stores or at www.jodyspopcorn.com.

Big deposit is boost for TowneBank

It might be a stretch to call a certificate of deposit an investment these days what with low interest rates and inflation, but the Norfolk Economic Development Authority still called it that last week.

The EDA has deposited $2 million in a TowneBank certificate of deposit in order to encourage the Portsmouth-based bank to lend locally to businesses.

Even though it is larger than $250,000, the CD will be fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. through a new banking program, the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service. Participating banks exchange funds from large deposits in under-$250,000 increments so the original large deposit remains insured.

Because money is exchanged, TowneBank will be able to leverage the full $2 million deposit into new lending to help fulfill the EDA's job creation and investment mission.

Port Authority joins in holiday challenge

A week after the Norfolk office of real estate firm GVA Advantis gave up its holiday party in favor of helping a local food bank and homeless children, another big hitter has joined in.

The Virginia Port Authority canceled its annual holiday party and will donate enough money to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia to provide a holiday meal for 100 families.

"In light of economic conditions, we have decided to for go a holiday celebration or party this year and instead put our efforts into helping others for the holiday season," said Jerry Bridges, the authority's executive director.

Any other companies skipping their own holiday cheer to spread some to others more needy? Let me know.

- Chris Dinsmore at chris. dinsmore@pilotonline.com