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Virginia: We have the Recipe for Success
The food and beverage industry is one of Virginia’s largest manufacturing employment sectors, with more than 500 food processors employing more than 35,000 Virginians. During the last decade, companies in the food and beverage sector invested over $1.92 billion and created over 6,300 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Why has Virginia had success in attracting food and beverage processors? We offer a business-friendly operating environment. Our 6 percent corporate income tax rate has not increased since 1972, making it among the nation’s lowest. Our environmental requirements meet federal regulations, but impose no additional state-level burden. There are a number of additional resources. Here are a few: Virginia’s workforce is skilled and highly productive— ranked in the top ten states in labor productivity. Virginia provides specialized job training opportunities through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and our strong, statewide network of more than 100 institutions of higher learning, including 23 community colleges. The Commonwealth is the northern-most right-to-work state east of the Mississippi, with wages for occupations in the food processing industry 3 percent lower than the U.S. average. In addition, the average workers’ compensation burden is 41 percent less than the national average—one of the lowest in the nation. From its seashore to its mountains, Virginia offers an abundance of land and natural resources. The temperate climate is ideal for growing a wide variety of crops, and fresh water is plentiful. The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads and the Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal afford manufacturers easy access to imported raw materials such as tea leaves, coffee beans, and coca beans, and serve as gateways for worldwide exports. Our strategic mid-Atlantic location, combined with a well-developed and extensive transportation infrastructure, provide a variety of ways to move goods—60 percent of America’s consumers are within two days’ shipping time. Virginia has more than 70,000 miles of interstate, primary, and secondary roads, 3,400 miles of railroad tracks, and is served by 14 commercial airports and 58 general aviation airports. Virginians take great pride in putting food on the world’s tables. With its ideal location, plentiful resources, skilled and productive workforce, and business-friendly environment, Virginia provides the ideal combination of assets necessary for success in today’s complex and competitive environment.
Virginia's Food Production Industry:
A Leading Gateway to the World:
Utilities that are Plentiful, Reliable and Affordable Virginia has an abundance of power, natural gas, water and other business infrastructure resources necessary to succeed in today's global economy. With atleast 44,000 megawatts of proposed in-service added energy generation in Virginia and 12 surrounding states, Virginia has a stable energy resource pool ready to serve present and future residential, commercial and industrial needs. Our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. In 2007, the average cost per unit of electricity for the industrial sector is 4.33 cents in Virginia, compared to 6.00 cents for the nation. Plus, Virginia's restructuring act gives residents and companies alike the option to choose energy providers. Virginia has more than 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, with a combined total freshwater flow of 25 billion gallons per day. A Partnership to Serve You The Virginia Economic Development Partnership works with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide customer-oriented services to many of Virginia’s food and beverage industries. One example of these services is found in Virginia’s State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) program, whereby small- and medium-sized meat processors are provided state inspection services identical to the federal inspection program. In addition, state MPI personnel provide assistance to individuals wishing to start a meat or poultry slaughter/processing business. These services include advice on facility design and construction, and assistance in meeting all requirements of the federal meat and poultry inspection acts. These value-added services are provided above and beyond the primary mission of the program, which is to ensure the safety of the food supply by working with Virginia producers to ensure the production of wholesome, unadulterated and properly labeled meat/poultry products. |
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