Summary: Virginia is America’s top state for talent. Here’s how we stay there.

The Virginian-Pilot published an op-ed on July 5, 2025, by Kirk Cox, former speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and president of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, and Cathie Vick, former president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, titled “Virginia Is America’s Top State for Talent. Here’s How We Stay That Way.”

Their key points underscore what has secured Viginia’s recognition as “America’s Top State for Business” by CNBC an unprecedented six times. 

They assert that Virginia’s continued leadership as America’s Top State for Business is rooted in deliberate, bipartisan investment in talent — particularly through internships and work-based learning that connect students to employers and strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline.

Key Takeaways

• Talent drives Virginia’s competitive advantage: Long-term investment in higher education and workforce preparation fuels economic growth and business success.
• Work-based learning delivers real results: Internships and co-ops improve job placement, help employers recruit effectively, and encourage graduates to stay in Virginia.
• Investment in talent has broad bipartisan and public support in Virginia: Over 90% of Virginians support investing in internships, and Virginia is the first state to set a legal goal of offering every student a paid internship.
• Access gaps require coordinated solutions: Fewer than half of graduates complete internships, highlighting the need for stronger public-private partnerships and campus support.
• State investment helps small businesses participate: Grants, matching funds, and statewide infrastructure enable small and mid-sized employers to offer paid internships and grow their talent pipeline.
• Expanding paid internships is a proven strategy: Virginia organizations, higher education institutions and government organizations are working together to retain talent, support employers of all sizes, and meaningfully invest in our shared future. 

To read the full column, visit: https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/07/05/column-virginia-is-americas-top-state-for-talent-heres-how-we-stay-there/.