RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber) will partner with the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), an initiative to increase international trade in Virginia. Through its participation in VITAL, the Chamber will expand services to its member companies as they grow their international sales. VITAL, which was launched in July 2015 by Governor Terry McAuliffe and is managed by VEDP, expands the Commonwealth’s nationally recognized international trade program via formal partnerships with Virginia’s public universities, industry associations and chambers of commerce.

Fairfax Chamber President & CEO Jim Corcoran stated, “The Fairfax Chamber, the Voice of Business in Northern VirginiaTM, is thrilled to partner with VEDP and the VITAL program to grow and diversify the Northern Virginia economy. The VITAL program promises to expose Virginia businesses to new markets and new customers abroad, allowing them to be more successful and employ more Virginians. This collaboration between government, business, and higher education will help shepherd in a new Virginia economy."

VITAL builds upon Virginia’s proven export assistance programs, including tailored market research, face-to-face meetings with qualified partners overseas, and VEDP’s award-winning Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program. Goals for VITAL include:

  • Growing Virginia exports by $1.6 billion in five years
  • Creating 14,000 trade-supported jobs in five years
  • Serving 390 companies per year via Virginia’s international trade programs

Speaking about the Fairfax Chamber’s decision to join VITAL, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said, “We have a great opportunity in Virginia to help our wonderful businesses in all corners of the state find customers outside of the country, where 95% of the world’s consumers live. Northern Virginia is home to many of these businesses, and we look forward to working with the Fairfax Chamber to help those businesses find international customers and grow.”

The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce joins 12 partners in VITAL, including:

  • Virginia Chamber of Commerce
  • Virginia Manufacturers Association
  • Virginia Maritime Association
  • Christopher Newport University
  • College of William & Mary 
  • James Madison University
  • George Mason University
  • Old Dominion University
  • University of Mary Washington
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Virginia Tech

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP offers numerous programs to assist Virginia companies with selling into the global marketplace.