Regional strengths that bolster your business

Innovation flourishes in Central Virginia, home to the University of Virginia (UVA). Offering a vibrant business climate with a highly qualified workforce, the region creates a fertile environment for your growth and expansion. 

• Ideal Mid-Atlantic connectivity, located 90 miles from the Virginia Inland Port and 90 miles from The Port of Virginia's Hampton Roads terminals, connected by Interstates 64 and 81, and home to the Charlottesville Albemarle  Airport (CHO), which provides daily flights to Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and more.
• Proven entrepreneurial climate, serving as a hub for both startups and global expansions.
• A highly qualified workforce fed by top-tier higher education institutions, and named "Top 100 Best Places to Live in America."

Greater Fredericksburg, situated on the Interstate 95 corridor between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, is a historic home for innovation. As Virginia’s Innovation Crossroads, the region offers an interconnected environment with strategic access to East Coast and international markets, a highly educated workforce, diverse economic clusters, and a lower cost of doing business.

• Premier logistics and distribution hub, with a robust freight rail network (CSX), foreign trade zone capabilities at Stafford Regional Airport, and three major airports within one hour.
• Virginia’s fastest-growing region for several years, with over 1 million skilled workers living within a 40-mile commute and specializing in aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, engineering, life sciences, and more.
• High education levels, with one of the highest concentrations of Ph.D.s in the country.

With its diverse economy and the fastest-growing port on the East Coast, Hampton Roads is a region engineered for the future of global business. This region offers an integrated transportation network, technical innovation, and a skilled workforce.

• Unparalleled global reach thanks to The Port of Virginia, the sixth-largest container operation in the U.S. and America’s most modern gateway. 
• Military and veteran talent pipeline from every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces with 120,000 active-duty, reserve, and civilian personnel located in the region.
• Diverse and proven commercial center with 14 different communities and a history of serving as a commercial and trading center since 1607. 

Located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Lynchburg Region boasts a notable history, a dynamic labor force, and a wealth of continuing education opportunities that provide an exceptional talent pipeline for its diverse industry base.

• Abundant, multi-generational talent pipeline due to a large regional college student population, its attraction as a top place in America for millennials to move, and a deep bench of skilled tradespeople.
• Global leadership in nuclear technology, with the second-highest concentration of nuclear workers in Virginia.
• Deep roots in manufacturing with advantages in steel and metals, wireless infrastructure and communication, and water capacity and quality as a leader in food and beverage processing. 

Virginia’s New River Valley provides both a small-town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative culture with a dedicated workforce. Offering cutting-edge research and exceptional education programs from local universities, the region is a natural fit for leading industries.

• Strong logistics and trucking infrastructure, located on I-81 and near the I-77 interchange, with a freight rail service and a designated Foreign Trade Zone (#238).
• World-class research and innovation, offering businesses access to cutting-edge facilities like the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and its Virginia Smart Roads for testing autonomous and unmanned systems.
• Tech hub for Additive Manufacturing and Applied Materials (AM2) designation, and attracting information technology and uncrewed systems companies to contribute to the Virginia technology landscape. 

The Northern Shenandoah Valley is a fast-growing region with a strong economy driven by a diverse blend of industry, agriculture, corporate services, and a robust quality of life. The region attracts business and residential development due to its location and excellent road, rail, and air service.

• Interconnected location near Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and served two interstates that run through the region, with access to eight additional interstates in 42 miles or less.
• Talent base for diverse industry, drawing from an extended labor force with specialties in manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing, agribusiness, professional services, logistics, technology, and more. 
• A focus on education and talent development as home to Laurel Ridge Community College and Shenandoah University, with access to Old Dominion University, satellite campuses of Virginia Tech and UVA, and nearby George Mason and James Madison Universities. 

The Roanoke Region is economically diverse, providing excellent market access and the infrastructure and resources to attract a range of industries. The area also offers a low cost of living and doing business — as well as unparalleled outdoor amenities.

• Advanced manufacturing center of excellence, serving as a hot spot for transportation manufacturing.
• Thriving life sciences and research cluster that supports high-growth biotech firms and provides residents with access to leading-edge healthcare.
• Vast source of regional talent where more than 100,000 undergraduate and graduate students are educated each year from 25 higher education institutions located within an hour’s drive.
   

South Central Virginia is a prime location to cultivate growth, strategically situated midway between Richmond and Raleigh, N.C. This region also offers an advanced transportation infrastructure, extensive fiber broadband, and a dedicated workforce.

• Mid-Atlantic location that provides unique access to two major East Coast markets and strong transportation network that keeps commute times low. 
• Elite tech and data infrastructure hub supported by extensive fiber broadband and IT infrastructure, making it a premier location for the cloud industry.
• In the heart of the “wood basket” of Virginia’s timber industry, providing a supply base for wood products and furniture manufacturing. 

State-of-the-art broadband infrastructure, an outstanding labor force, and a wealth of available sites and buildings combine to make Southwest Virginia a low-cost business destination.

• Ideally situated midway between eight major hubs: Atlanta and Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Cincinnati, and Richmond and Louisville. 
• Technology innovation hub with state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure and a focus on advanced manufacturing, electronic information technology, energy, emerging technologies, education, and entrepreneurship.
• Uniquely qualified pool of software and energy talent, thanks to tailored training through the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing.