Water from the Three Springs Water Treatment Plant in McGaheysville, Va., was ranked Top 5 in the nation at the recent Great American Water Taste Test in Washington, D.C.

The contest was managed by the National Rural Water Association as part of its yearly Rural Water Rally. Participants had to win both state and national competitions to be represented at the final judging panel.

Clarity, bouquet and taste were the selection criteria, with judges focusing on water samples that had no taste, no smell and perfect clarity.

The Three Springs Water Treatment Plant is located in Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley. The water quality is naturally pure as plant manager Luke Hornick stated, “We add fluorine and chlorine, but the water is of such purity that nothing else is needed.”

High water quality is important not just for individual consumption, but it also drives business decisions. Food processing and brewing companies require large amounts of high quality water, making Virginia a preferred location for those industries.

According to Rockingham County director of Community Development William Vaughn, “It’s one of the primary reasons that Coors — now MillerCoors — established East Coast operations here 25 years ago.”

Concerns over water quality and availability are receiving increased attention across the globe, making Virginia’s infrastructure resources a valuable asset for companies located in the Commonwealth. To learn more about Virginia’s world-class capabilities serving the food and beverage industry click here.

A view of Virginia's Shenandoah River

On Monday, GSI Commerce announced plans to expand its fulfillment capabilities in Henry County, bringing 60 new jobs and a $1.5 million investment to the Martinsville area of Southern Virginia.

This expansion will be used to handle the fulfillment, freight and warehouse management of the Company Kids and The Company Store brands of Hanover Direct — a new customer GSI Commerce just acquired.

Located in Martinsville, Va., since 2007, GSI Commerce has successfully grown its operations to include 1,000 full-time and seasonal workers. The expanded facility will be located near the company’s existing facilities at Bowles Industrial Park.

“GSI Commerce’s state-of-the-art fulfillment services will better facilitate the distribution of Hanover Direct’s brands and improve its clients’ customer experience. This new relationship will also ensure many jobs dedicated to Hanover Direct fulfillment services will remain within the state of Virginia,” according to the company’s press release.

The Commonwealth is a popular place for fulfillment centers with Amazon.com announcing two centers in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties, creating 1,350 new jobs. Backcountry.com also announced a fulfillment center in Montgomery County which is expected to create 200 new jobs.

To learn why Virginia’s strategic East Coast location, world-class logistics network and highly-skilled workforce make it a perfect location for logistics companies, click here.

Wytheville, Va., company Evatran is leading the way in developing an electronic vehicle (EV) wireless recharging system. Governor Bob McDonnell hosted the company’s launch event for its Apollo Program at the state capitol in Richmond, Va., last Thursday.

Google, Duke Energy, Hertz, Clemson University and the Commonwealth of Virginia have already signed on for Phase I of the Apollo Program. These partners have agreed to test the company’s wireless charging technology over the next three months and provide feedback to the company.

Evatran has been on the fast-track since June 2010 when Governor McDonnell announced the company would invest $3.5 million to establish a new manufacturing operation in Wytheville, Va., bringing 84 new jobs to the area. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Wythe County, the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, Wytheville, Rural Retreat and Virginia’s aCorridor to successfully compete against North Carolina and Ohio for the project.

Evatran’s Plugless Power system is unique — as its name suggests it does not require the EV to be plugged in to recharge. Through inductive power transfer, the user simply has to park the vehicle over a specialized pad which uses magnetic fields to transfer energy from the pad’s coils to the receiving coils within the vehicle adapter. The energy is only converted to electricity once inside the vehicle, ensuring a safe transfer.

Evatran hopes the convenience of its technology will aid in the early adoption of EVs as a standard mode of transportation, helping to ease the global energy crisis.

As a green energy pioneer, the company illustrates the strength of Virginia’s entrepreneurs in both the technology and energy sectors. To learn more about the Commonwealth’s unique offering for technology and energy companies click here.

Insourcing, reshoring, even backshoring are all terms used to described the growing trend of previously-outsourced manufacturing jobs returning to the U.S.

What exactly is driving this trend since Asia, and specifically China, has been earmarked as the go to place for cheap labor over the last decade?  The answer is simple — when it comes to goods for the U.S. market, on a total cost basis, manufacturing in China is becoming less attractive while manufacturing in the U.S. is becoming all the more so.

With increased exposure to the West, Chinese workers are demanding higher wages.  According to The Boston Consulting Group’s report Made in America, Again, Chinese wages are growing 15-20 percent each year. 

Labor typically represents only 7-25 percent of the cost in manufacturing a product. Other factors also moving in the U.S.’ favor include a favorable exchange rate, increased U.S. worker productivity and rising energy and land costs in China. Longer supply chains necessitate higher inventory and shipping expenses as well as pose political, intellectual property and weather related risks — all of which have become less tolerable to global manufacturers.

The combination of these factors led The Boston Consulting Group to conclude that “By sometime around 2015 — for many goods destined for North American consumers — manufacturing in some parts of the U.S. will be just as economical as manufacturing in China.”

In addition, China’s manufacturing infrastructure will increasingly be put to use to serve the local market. Its rising middle class will demand more products, absorbing a larger percentage of the goods produced in China. Given the costs and risks mentioned above, global supply chains appear to be shortening, with companies returning to the U.S. to manufacture goods closer to the end user.

Virginia’s furniture industry is a great illustration of this trend, with a number of expansions announced over the last few months. In Galax, Va., Albany Industries’ first Virginia location will create 335 new jobs and Vaughn-Bassett’s expansion of an existing factory and acquisition of an additional factory will create more than 100 jobs.

In addition, Netherlands producer Axxor Group chose Pittsylvania County for its first U.S. operation to supply honeycomb to nearby IKEA subsidiary Swedwood North America. Most recently, Laminate Technologies selected Henry County for its new Mid-Atlantic manufacturing operation, creating 30 new jobs.

Virginia’s cost-effective operating climate combined with its highly-skilled manufacturing workforce puts the Commonwealth in a prime position to capitalize on this trend. From Galax, Va., Vaughn-Bassett CEO John Bassett explained, “We are winning the battle against our Asian competition because we have the finest workforce in the world and we have the best equipped factories in the world,” as quoted by WSLS 10 News.

With 2011 manufacturing job creation up 31% and investment up 75% over last year, Virginia has already distinguished itself as a manufacturing powerhouse. To learn why Virginia’s pro-business climate and educated workforce make it a great location for manufacturing companies, click here.

While micro-loans are often associated with aiding entrepreneurs across the globe, the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority has established a program to help Virginia entrepreneurs right here in the Commonwealth.

The program is targeted towards existing Virginia businesses that will use the financing to either create new jobs or retain existing jobs. Companies must have been in operation for at least three years, as well as meet additional criteria in order to take advantage of the program.

These short-term loans will have a maximum maturity of one year with rates based off the Wall Street Journal  Prime Rate. Funds can be used for financing working capital needs, fixed asset purchases, leasehold improvements or technology infrastructure.

Virginia is a great place to start and grow a business, offering entrepreneurs a variety of resources at all stages of expansion. Use these links to learn more about Virginia’s Micro-Loan Program and obtain an application.

To learn more about Virginia’s resources for early stage companies click here.

A rich tradition of cabinet and furniture makers in Southern Virginia attracted Laminate Technologies (LamTech) to the Martinsville Industrial Park in Henry County. Virginia competed successfully against North Carolina for the project, which will bring 30 new jobs and a $2 million investment to the already well-established wood product manufacturing industry in the Martinsville – Henry County region. 

The Henry County location is LamTech’s first operation in the Commonwealth, strategically positioning the company near many of its customers, already thriving in the region. Home to a number of successful furniture companies, the region has established itself as a hub of American furniture manufacturing. Some of these firms, such as Basset and Stanley, were founded in Martinsville and have had a manufacturing presence in Henry County for more than 80 years.  

Given the nature of wood product manufacturing, which demands the movement and storage of large pre-production and finished goods, Virginia’s world-class logistics and supply chain network provides a strategic advantage to furniture companies. With easy access to high quality lumber, the efficient East Coast transportation infrastructure and a workforce of skilled artisans, Henry County offers an ideal location for the manufacturing of hardwood and laminate furniture, cabinets and component products. 

To learn more about Virginia’s growing wood products industry and why LamTech is one of more than 1,100 wood products companies located in the Commonwealth click here. 

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently initiated a Call for Information and Nominations to determine industry interest in commercial wind energy leases in federal waters off Virginia’s coast. This announcement is a significant milestone advancing Virginia’s offshore wind industry and moving the Commonwealth closer to claiming the title, “Energy Capital of the East Coast.”

Industry participants will have 45 days to respond to the Call, after which BOEM will determine whether the leasing process will be competitive or not. The Call Area was determined by the Virginia Renewable Energy Task Force in an effort to balance offshore wind development with protection of the environment and shipping interests. BOEM recently completed an environmental assessment of the area and determined that there would be “no significant impacts” in issuing these leases.

Virginia has already made significant strides in developing its offshore wind energy assets. The Commonwealth’s ideal combination of strong Class 6 winds and shallow waters that allow for the easy installation of turbines has attracted a number of players in the global supply chain.

Last October, Virginia’s Northampton County was selected as the site for Poseidon Atlantic, the first comprehensive testing and certification facility for both offshore and land-based wind turbines in the U.S. Poseidon Atlantic recently installed its first Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) monitoring position in Northampton County. The LIDAR system is about the size of an air conditioner and uses laser technology to measure wind speed, direction, frequency and strength. This project will be uniquely able to test and certify the entire wind turbine (as opposed to testing component parts).

In addition, Gamesa Technology Corp. and Newport News Shipbuilding, a unit of Huntington Ingalls Industries, have launched the Gamesa Offshore Wind Technology Center in Chesapeake, Va. The center has made significant strides in developing an offshore testing facility in the Chesapeake Bay, off the Eastern Shore. The test site has been identified and submarine testing of the ocean floor has begun. The test site is expected to be complete in late 2012 to early 2013.

To learn more about Virginia’s energy assets and why more than 380 energy companies have established operations in the Commonwealth, click here.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development Mary Rae Carter joined state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the Noblis Center for Applied High Performance Computing (CAHPC) in Danville, Va., last Friday. CAHPC is home to the Cray XMT2, the latest generation XMT and the only XMT supercomputer in the U.S. outside of a federal or academic setting.

Taking the power of High Performance Computing (HPC) out of the lab, CAHPC will allow companies convenient access to a supercomputer to solve advanced, real-world problems involving large amounts of data. This access to a supercomputer is unprecedented outside of federal or academic setting and removes the cost barrier to entry for smaller Virginia businesses.

Initially announced in June 2011, one of the goals of this project is to build on the success of Danville’s burgeoning River District by attracting additional high-tech companies. Located on the Dan River, the area’s historic buildings are being renovated and quickly becoming a hub for technology companies. Luna Nanoworks, Lifebatt, Infinity Global Packaging and Horizontech have already invested in the area.

While Northern Virginia is certainly an impressive IT hub, Danville’s location in Southside Virginia illustrates the expansiveness of Virginia’s high-tech capabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Virginia has the highest concentration of high-tech companies as well as the highest concentration of high-tech workers according to Enterprising States 2011: Recovery and Renewal for the 21st Century prepared by Praxis Strategy Group and Cyberstates 2011, respectively.

To learn more about Virginia’s world-class technology capabilities and why high-tech companies have invested more than $9 billion in Virginia over the last ten years, click here.

Pictured below is the Cray XMT2, the latest generation XMT supercomputer.

If you receive a bouquet this Valentine’s Day, it may contain flowers flown in from Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines delivered its first shipment, nearly two tons of Hypericum flowers, to Washington Dulles International Airport in January, and continues to deliver this amount on a weekly basis.

Arriving in perfect condition from Addis Ababa, this shipment of the Hypericum Coco variety was grown by Sun Kissed Flowers on the highlands of Ethiopia in East Africa. Ethiopia’s elevation, soil quality and weather conditions are perfect for slow-growing flowers, making some of the highest quality Hypericums in the world. A popular filler flower used to complement bouquets, the Hypericum’s signature berries resemble the coffee bean, one of Ethiopia’s better known exports.

While flowers may not be top of mind when Westerners think about Ethiopia, the country’s horticulture industry is on the rise. Also a global leader in producing a wide variety of roses and carnations, EthiopianFlowerExport.com reported the country exported 450 million cut flowers in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, with expectations to generate $530 million in revenues by 2014.

This milestone is part of the transformation taking place among commercial air carriers. Faced with rising operating costs, carriers are trying to squeeze every possible dollar to hold margins steady — hence the air cargo industry has taken off. (For additional information on the air cargo industry see our November blog.)

When it comes to delivering perishable cargo, such as flowers, Virginia’s logistics network is world-class. Dulles’ central East Coast location is within a day’s reach of more than 50 percent of the U.S. market. With a catchment area that covers 25 states and parts of Canada, as well as a dedicated access road to I-95, Dulles’ ability to save valuable time and spoilage costs has made it a sought-after import/export location.

More than 240 companies have set up distribution centers in the Commonwealth and companies shipping perishable goods, such as flowers, food and pharmaceuticals, are discovering the benefits of Virginia’s premier air cargo industry. To learn more Virginia’s world-class logistics capabilities click here.

While it’s always exciting when a new company opens its first operation in the Commonwealth, VEDP is just as enthusiastic when a long-standing Virginia company chooses to expand its operations here. That’s just what happened when Honeywell announced its plans to expand its Advanced Fibers and Composites (AF&C) operation in Chesterfield County through an investment of $27.5 million, which will create 50 new jobs.

Honeywell began operating in Virginia back in 1928 and this 80-plus year history has resulted in 17 facilities across the Commonwealth that employ 1,800 Virginians. Continued expansion and investment in Virginia confirms the company’s positive experience in the Commonwealth, allowing Virginia to beat out North Carolina and South Carolina for this project.

Honeywell’s AF&C business manufactures the lightest and strongest polyethylene fiber in the world. Its life-saving technology is used in applications to protect military and police officers where lightweight strength is critical. Bullet-resistant vests, breast plates, helmets, combat vehicles and military aircraft are just a few applications for AF&C’s world-class polyethylene fiber.

Virginia’s appeal to the plastics and advanced materials industry spans numerous subsectors including fiber and film manufacturing, blow molding, injection molding, pipe manufacturing, thermoforming and equipment manufacturing. With recent announcements from the likes of DuPont, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Tessy Plastics, O’Sullivan Films and Phoenix Packaging, Virginia has made its mark as an ideal location for plastics and advanced materials companies. To learn more click here.

Advance Auto Parts recently announced its plans to establish a Financial Services Commercial Customer Care Center at its corporate headquarters location in Roanoke, Va. Located at the Crossroads Corporate Business Center, this project will bring an $8 million investment and 75 new jobs to Roanoke over the next three years.

Historically catering to the do-it-yourself market, Advance Auto Parts has expanded its customer base to include commercial customers. This project will allow the company to enhance its customer service to this market, bringing the management of the entire commercial credit experience under one roof.

Commencing operations in Roanoke 80 years ago, Advance Auto Parts has successfully grown its operations in the Commonwealth from a small, family-run business to a Fortune 500 Company. CEO Darren R. Jackson recently rang the bell at the NYSE to celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary as a publicly-traded company.

The company’s commitment to Virginia and the Roanoke region is expressed by CEO Darren R. Jackson, “Over the last few years, we have invested over $10 million in our Store Support Center in Roanoke in our effort to expand and improve our facilities. This new team will be part of our over 1,600 Team Member base in Roanoke and is an integral part of our goal to grow Advance through service and reflects our longstanding commitment to the growth and development of the Roanoke Valley.”

Virginia is home to 70 corporate headquarters of companies exceeding $500 million in revenue. To learn why leading companies, like Advance Auto Parts, call Virginia home, click here.

Virginia was recently awarded a Silver Shovel in the 5-9 Million population category by Area Development magazine.

As part of the magazine’s seventh annual ranking, the award recognizes states for attracting investment projects that created a high number of new jobs in calendar year 2011. States were recognized for establishing policies that drive job growth, infrastructure improvements, and processes that attract new employers.

The award is based on each state’s top 10 projects that broke ground in 2011, using a number of weighted factors such as number of new jobs created, size of investment, number of new facilities, and the diversity of industries represented.

The ten outstanding projects that made Virginia a winner were: Amazon.com, ICF International, United States Green Energy, Soft Tech Consulting Inc., Katoen Natie, Backcountry.com, International Paper, PPD Inc., Rubbermaid Commercial Products Inc., and Microsoft Corp.

Also a winner of the Silver Shovel in 2009 and 2006, this recognition continues Virginia’s winning streak with awards such as Site Selection magazine’s 2011 Competitiveness Award, MoneyRates.com’s 2012 Best State to Make a Living, Pollina Corporate Real Estate’s 2011 Top Pro-Business State, CNBC’s 2011 Top State for Business, and Business Facilities magazine’s top spot for Economic Growth Potential in 2011.

To learn more about Virginia’s unique combination of assets that has allowed businesses to prosper here for more than 400 years, click here.

Capital One recently announced plans to invest $150 million to establish a new data center in Chesterfield County, bringing 50 new jobs to the area. Virginia successfully competed against Texas for this project.

Chesterfield County was selected due to its proximity to Capital One’s existing operations in the Greater Richmond area. The Fortune 500 company has successfully operated in Virginia for more than two decades.

Central Virginia is seeing a growing cluster of data centers due its abundant power, advanced fiber network, and low risk of natural disasters. In addition, the strong partnership between local officials and utility providers allows deals such as this to be put together quickly.

Virginia is fast becoming a popular place for data centers across the Commonwealth. Data processing was the dominant sector for investment in 2011 at $960 million, accounting for almost half of the nonmanufacturing investment.

The Commonwealth not only offers companies low electricity rates below the national average; it maintains a highly qualified workforce to support the sector, with the highest concentration of high-tech workers according to Cyberstates 2011. In addition, the Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption provides a competitive cost advantage on qualified equipment for data centers.

To learn more about Virginia’s capabilities and why companies have invested more than $4.4 billion in the Commonwealth’s data center industry over the past ten years, click here.

Continuing our series on University-Based Economic Development, we will look at how James Madison University’s (JMU) Virginia Center for Wind Energy (VCWE) keeps industry professionals educated on wind power developments in Virginia.

Located in a 4,000-square-foot commercial lab space near JMU’s main campus, the center has been active since 2001. VCWE provides measurements, economic modeling, education, energy policy analysis and GIS reports on wind energy in the Commonwealth.

VCWE recently hosted the 2012 Statewide Wind Energy Symposium, which included panel discussions and workshops ranging from Wind 101 to Regulatory and Permitting Options. The 150 attendees included government officials, wind industry decision-makers, business owners and Virginia residents.

During the symposium VCWE launched its Small Wind Training & Testing Facility, which will be used primarily for workforce training in the small wind industry. Small wind is traditionally defined as turbines below 100 kilowatts (kW) with most residential turbines under 20 kW. Through the center students will have access to three wind turbines, a WeatherBug weather station, a solar array system and additional measurement equipment.

Uncertainty still surrounds the national production tax credit, and locally, many cities do not have wind ordinances in place, making education the critical mandate for VCWE.

“The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility was designed to address a lack of available resources in the region to support the training of a small wind workforce throughout Virginia and beyond. This resource will support teaching of undergraduates at JMU and other educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth, as well as the training of residents and business owners who seek to learn more about how to apply wind energy in Virginia,” said Dr. Jonathan Miles, VCWE Director.

Fortunately Virginia has a compelling wind story with its shallow waters, strong Class 6 winds, high voltage transmission grid, and maritime workforce. To learn more JMU’s Virginia Center for Wind Energy, click here.

Dr. Jonathan Miles, VCWE Director, addresses the crowd at the JMU Small Wind Training & Testing Facility ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and VEDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint marketing initiative to better share Virginia’s unique story with businesses that utilize port facilities.

The marketing initiative will include creating a shared message to be featured through websites, joint client calls on marketing missions, and collaborative representation at various industry events and tradeshows.

The Port of Virginia handles 1.9 million TEUs each year and is fully prepared to accommodate 10,000+ TEU vessels. Its 50-foot shipping channels are the deepest on the East Coast, offering companies the only East Coast location able to hand post-Panamax vessels as first port of call.

Truly an intermodal gateway, the Port of Virginia provides barge, rail and truck distribution with a 48-hour transit time to Chicago. The port offers connectivity with two Class I railroads as well as an Inland Port and Virginia’s premier interstate system.

The Port of Virginia is an economic engine providing 343,000 port-related jobs across the Commonwealth. Over the last two years numerous companies have announced relocations or expansions related to the Port of Virginia’s world-class capabilities, including Ace Hardware, Albany Industries, Amazon.com, Federal-Mogul, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Honeywell, Rubbermaid, and Stihl Inc., to name a few.

To learn more about Virginia’s premier transportation infrastructure and the Port of Virginia, click on the highlighted links.

Virginia Port Authority Vice Chair Jim Boyd (left) signs the Memorandum of Understanding with VEDP Chairman Julien Patterson.

Sabra Dipping Co. announced two exciting projects on its 49-acre campus at Ruffin Mill Industrial Park in Chesterfield County. America’s leading hummus producer will expand its existing food manufacturing operation and establish a Center of Excellence (COE) research and development facility. The combined investment will bring $28 million and 90 new jobs to Chesterfield County.

The manufacturing expansion will give Sabra 50 percent more production capacity with improvements such as adding two lines and a packaging automation system. Sabra first chose Chesterfield County as the site for its new manufacturing facility in 2008.

The new COE facility will feature a state-of-the-art culinary center and research center where Sabra plans to partner with universities on food science research. Construction on the new 20,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2012.

Sabra Dipping Co. was formed through a joint venture between PepsiCo and Israel’s second-largest food and beverage company, the Strauss Group. Sabra’s award-winning flavors have made it the leading producer of hummus in the U.S.

This project is another positive result of a Governor’s marketing mission. Governor McDonnell met with Strauss Group officials in Israel during his November 2011 mission.

The company chose Virginia again for both its skilled workforce and cost-competitive advantages. Sabra CEO Ronen Zohar said, “The fact that we are building the Sabra Center of Excellence in Virginia is a testament to our belief in the people, the community and the resources available here.”

Virginia’s low and stable tax rate combined with competitive electricity and construction costs helped make the Commonwealth the clear winner. In addition, Virginia’s workforce is well-prepared through industry-specific training programs provided by the Commonwealth’s top-ranked universities and 23-member community college system.

To learn why more than 555 food and beverage manufacturing companies have invested more than $1.9 billion in Virginia over the last decade, click here.

While traveling on his recent European Marketing Mission, Governor McDonnell announced that German subsidiary Berryville Graphics will consolidate operations through an expansion of its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Berryville, Va. The project will bring a $10.6 million investment and 84 new jobs to Clarke County.

One of the largest manufacturers of hardcover and softcover books, Berryville Graphics produces nearly 120 million books each year from its Berryville facility. The company is a subsidiary of German-owned Bertelsmann AG, the largest media company in Europe.

On June 12 the Governor met with Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe in Gutersloh, Germany to close the deal as part of his European Marketing Mission.

Located in Berryville since 1956, Berryville Graphics has found success in Virginia despite challenges the publishing industry has faced in recent years. In addition to the region’s skilled and dedicated workforce, Virginia’s premier logistics network was also a key reason for consolidating operations in Clarke County.

The Clarke County location offers convenient access to I-81, I-70 and the I-66 connection to I-95. In addition, Virginia’s two Class I railroads, Inland Port, and international Port of Virginia allow companies to reach customers across multiple markets quickly and cost-effectively.

To learn why companies keep choosing the Commonwealth for its premier logistics capabilities and world-class workforce, click here.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently celebrated the opening of its new headquarters building in the Ballston Science Corridor in Arlington, Va. DARPA first announced plans to relocate in July 2009 in order to meet updated Department of Defense (DOD) security requirements.

Federal, state and local officials worked with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission to keep DARPA within the Science Corridor in Arlington, and avoid relocation to a military base. This project retained 800 jobs at DARPA and more than 1,700 jobs through its partnerships with other defense contractors and private businesses in the region.

The Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority administered a $10 million grant to customize the new building to meet the DOD’s Minimum Anti-terrorism Standards for Buildings. The 13-story, 352,000-square-foot building was also constructed to meet LEED Silver energy efficiency requirements.

A leading research institution and agency of the DOD, DARPA’s mission is to develop critical technology to preserve national security. The agency’s innovations have led to key scientific and research discoveries, including involvement in the creation of the Internet.

As part of the Ballston Science Corridor, DARPA will enjoy synergies with the surrounding science community, including the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, CACI International, and the new Virginia Tech research center.

DARPA is one example of the many leading research institutions in the Commonwealth, providing Virginia businesses with access to cutting-edge research and an innovative workforce. To learn more about Virginia’s world-class research capabilities, click here.

Virginia was named a Top Performing State and commended as America’s Most Livable State in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s recent report Enterprising States 2012. The report was released at the U.S. Chamber’s annual Jobs Summit on June 13.

The report reviewed the economic development and job creation policies of all 50 states, looking at growth, productivity and livability measures. The Top Performing States were calculated using the follow seven factors: long-term job growth, short-term job growth, overall expansion of gross state product, state output per job, growth in output per job, growth in per capital personal income, and median income of a four-person household adjusted for state cost of living.

Virginia was ranked No. 1 in Median Family Income, STEM Job Concentration, and High-tech Share of All Businesses. The Commonwealth outperformed other states due to its high quality of living combined with a strong base of high-tech businesses and the skilled workers to support these companies.

This comes as no surprise, as Virginia has previously been recognized as having both the highest concentration of high-tech companies and the highest concentration of high-tech workers, according to Enterprising States 2011 and Cyberstates 2011, respectively.

The study also referenced Virginia’s leadership in building upon its strengths in technology through new legislative initiatives promoting research and development and investment in technology and science.

May’s seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers confirm Virginia’s positive story. Holding steady at 5.6 percent, the jobless number is well below the national average and remains the lowest rate in three years.

To learn why Virginia continues to receive top rankings for its pro-business environment, skilled workforce and high quality of life, click here.

As part of our ongoing series we are taking a look at what higher education institutions are doing around the Commonwealth to support University-Based Economic Development (UBED).

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) has partnered with the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center for Human Capital Development to develop an Analyst Boot Camp program for the intelligence community.

The 10-week, 400-hour Analyst Boot Camp is geared towards entry level intelligence workers with a bachelor’s degree. While at the boot camp students obtain Secret security clearance, and by the end of the program they can apply for Top Secret clearance.

The boot camp provides an overview of world events from an intelligence perspective, as well as coursework on the different types of intelligence. It also prepares students on all aspects necessary to complete a briefing, including gathering, analyzing and reporting on data.

Because participants get such a thorough overview of the intelligence community and can hit the ground running after graduation, PVCC estimates the program saves future employers $50,000-$80,000 per student.

The Analyst Boot Camp was developed to support the training needs of Central Virginia’s intelligence community. In particular, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure legislation, the Defense Intelligence Agency moved more than 800 jobs to Albemarle County’s Rivanna Station beginning in 2010. 

To date, the Analyst Boot Camp has graduated two classes and the third class is scheduled to begin later this month. Graduates find employment in the military, intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and in cyber security fields in the private sector.

This fall the program will expand its coursework for more advanced students to include a Certified Ethical Hacker course, additional software courses, and additional homeland security and counter-terrorism courses.

PVCC’s Analyst Boot Camp is another example of the customized workforce training solutions Virginia higher education institutions offer employers across the state. To learn more about the Analyst Boot Camp or PVCC’s customized workforce training solutions, click on the highlighted links.

Last week, Carmeuse Lime & Stone announced it will expand its Frederick County limestone mining and quarrying operation through a $45 million investment, creating 25 new jobs.

The investment will be used to purchase new machinery and equipment, including a new modern kiln, to meet increased demand for the company’s products. With new EPA regulations around the production of “clean coal,” demand for lime products has increased due to lime’s ability to absorb sulfur and reduce emissions.

With a Belgium parent company and 90 facilities across the globe, the largest producer of lime and limestone products in North America certainly had its pick of locations. Carmeuse Lime & Stone chose Virginia not once, but five times, through its multiple operations across the Commonwealth. 

Carmeuse Lime & Stone has found success in Frederick County since 1959. The company’s decision to grow this location was based upon the region’s highly skilled workforce, wealth of natural resources, and supporting infrastructure.

With trucking as the company’s main distribution channel, Virginia’s superior logistics network helped seal the deal. The Frederick County location offers convenient access to I-81, I-70 and the I-66 connection to I-95, allowing the company to easily reach Eastern, Midwestern and Canadian markets.

In addition, the Virginia Inland Port is only a few miles away, allowing the company to access international markets through the world-class Port of Virginia.

To learn why Virginia is consistently ranked America’s Top State for Business, and why manufacturing companies keep coming back to the Commonwealth, click here.

Virginia was ranked the No. 7 Friendliest State by more than 6,000 small businesses surveyed by Thumbtack.com and the Kauffman Foundation in the recently published Thumbtack.com Small Business Survey.

Virginia was in the top ten nationwide in the following categories: lowest cost to hire a new employee, business-friendly labor and hiring regulations, strong training programs, and networking events geared towards small businesses.

The Commonwealth was also the No. 1 state in the Mid-Atlantic region in the categories of overall small business friendliness, lowest cost of hiring a new employee, and ease of starting a small business.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are at the heart of economic growth, providing 65 percent of net new jobs nationwide between 1993 and 2009, according to the Thumbtack.com Small Business Survey.

Governor McDonnell’s recent announcement of new legislature to encourage investment in small business further illustrates Virginia’s intent to attract and assist small businesses. Senate Bill 344 and House Bill 585 created the Small Business Investment Grant Fund which offers a grant equal to 10 percent of the qualified investment.

To learn why Virginia is a great place to start a business and read more about the extensive resources available to entrepreneurs, click here.