Dynamic Aviation, Rockingham County

Dynamic Aviation, Rockingham County

Regional Highlights

Nestled between Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley includes seven counties (Augusta, Bath, Highland, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham, and Shenandoah) and five independent cities (Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro). The region is plentiful in natural resources and boasts a powerful cluster of employers rooted in manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. Food and Beverage production is a major presence in the manufacturing sector, along with pharmaceutical and industrial equipment. Food and Beverage manufacturing employs more than 5% of the Valley’s labor force of over 175,000 people at major companies like Hershey, Molson Coors Beverage Company, McKee Food, and Cargill.

Location

The Shenandoah Valley is in the heart of historic and scenic west-central Virginia in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Interstates 81 and 64 traverse the region, along with close proximity to Interstate 66, providing an excellent transportation infrastructure and connection to markets north or south and east or west.

Shenandoah Valley
Male manufacturing products in a factory

Cadence Inc., Staunton.png

  • I-81 is the longest interstate in Virginia and rated one of the top eight truck routes in the U.S.
  • Interstates 64 and 81 provide easy access to the Virginia Inland Port at Front Royal and The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads.
  • I-66 links I-81 with the Washington, D.C., MSA.
  • Freight rail service is provided by CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Buckingham Branch Railroad, Chesapeake & Western Railroad, and Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
  • The Virginia Inland Port is approximately 15 miles from the region and The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads is 182 miles east.
  • General aviation and commercial air service is provided by Shenandoah Valley Airport (SHD), which offers daily service to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT), as well as Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO – 36.7 miles), and Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH – 40.3 miles). Washington-Dulles International (IAD) offers commercial flights and cargo transportation 70 miles from Shenandoah County. 
Male and Female student working on computers in a computer science classroom at James Madison University

Talent Development

The region is home to ten institutions of higher education including James Madison University, Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, Bridgewater College, and Blue Ridge Community College. A wealth of career and technical institutes, like Massanutten Technical Center, also call the Valley home. With access to more than 35,000 annual graduates within a 30-mile radius of the region, companies look to the Shenandoah Valley’s colleges and universities for an educated workforce.

A Conversation with Jason Reiman

Chief Supply Chain Officer
Jason Reiman

Danone North America’s Largest Plant in the World Continues Growth in the Shenandoah Valley

Danone’s Mount Crawford plant has become its largest facility in the world. Formerly WhiteWave Foods Company, the manufacturer began operating in Rockingham County in 1988 and was purchased by Danone in April 2017. The 600,000-square-foot plant employs more than 600 workers and produces more than 120 million gallons of product annually.

Read the Full Case Study
Danone North America, Rockingham County

The Hershey Company Produces Sweet Success in Virginia

Hershey employs more than 1,000 people in the Commonwealth, with the majority at its Stuarts Draft manufacturing facility. The plant plays a critical role in the company’s growth and production and delivery of its products to global consumers, so when Hershey began its site selection process, of course Virginia was in the running.

Read the Full Case Study
Hershey, Augusta County

An Outdoor Lover's Paradise

Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain ranges, the Shenandoah Valley boasts huge areas of protected land in the form of Shenandoah National Park and the majority of the Virginia portion of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The region has abundant natural resources that bolster a thriving food and beverage production industry, which employs more than 5% of the Shenandoah Valley’s labor force.

Discover the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia Economic Review.

Hiker on a mountain in Shenandoah National Park looking at the sunrise

Bearfence Mountain Shenandoah National Park, Rockingham County

Living in the Shenandoah Valley

A four-season climate means year-round outdoor activities, from skiing at Massanutten and Wintergreen resorts to golfing at the world-renowned Omni Homestead Resort. National, state, and local parks offer unlimited opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and camping. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway draw visitors from around the world to view the scenic vistas of the Shenandoah Valley.

Cultural and historical attractions include the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, the Museum of American Frontier Culture, Woodrow Wilson’s Birthplace, Natural Bridge, and the George C. Marshall Museum. The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton is the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater and hosts performances year-round.

The Valley’s rich history is kept alive in living museums and libraries, and the area’s colleges and universities sponsor lectures, concerts, art exhibits, and numerous athletic events. Vibrant town centers feature fine arts and crafts, music, festivals, performing arts, and one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants.

The Omni Homestead Resort, Bath County

The Omni Homestead Resort, Bath County

Massanutten, Rockingham County

Massanutten, Rockingham County

American Shakespeare Center, Staunton

American Shakespeare Center, Staunton