Virginia’s companies provide services and manufactured goods to customers
throughout the world. Our manufacturing base continues to be strong, producing
everything from steel beams and wood flooring to semiconductors, robots and
rocket engines. As the birthplace of the Internet and one of the leading centers
of software development, Virginia’s high-technology economy continues
to expand.
More than 6,400 manufacturing companies operate in Virginia, with forest-related
products ranking first in the number of companies. From 2002-2006, forest-related
companies invested more than $1.04 billion and created over 10,900 new jobs
in the Commonwealth. Forest resources contribute more than $30.5 billion annually
to the state’s economy and generate more than 248,000 jobs. The forest
products industry produces more than $11.5 billion worth of goods and services
on an annual basis and represents 26% of the state’s manufacturing base;
one out of six manufacturing jobs is attributed to the industry.
Virginia's Forest Products Industry
- More than 6,400 manufacturing companies operate in Virginia, with forest-related
products ranking first in number of companies
- From 2002-2006, forest-related companies invested over $1.04 billion
and created over 10,900 new jobs in the Commonwealth
- Forest resources contribute more than $30.5 billion annually to the state’s
economy and generate more than 248,000 jobs
- Forest products industry produces over $11.5 billion worth of goods and
services on an annual basis
- Twenty percent of the state’s manufacturing base produces forest-related
products and one out of six manufacturing jobs is attributed to the industry
Virginia is the Best State for Business
Streamlined business regulations, moderate corporate taxes, coordinated state-supported
workforce training, and export assistance combine to create an innovative
economic strategy for the Commonwealth and one of the most prosperous business
environments for our industrial community.
As a testament to this, Virginia consistently receives top rankings from
several industry-oriented publications and associations. In recent months,
our state has been named Top State for Business by CNBC and the Top Pro-Business
State by Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc. And, for the second year in a
row, Virginia is ranked the Best State for Business by Forbes.com. In each
analysis, cost of doing business, quality of workforce, and regulatory environment
all drove Virginia to the top. While Virginia offers tax credits, job training,
and cash grants to qualifying companies, the above on-going business considerations
are what will minimize your company’s operating costs year-after-year.
A Leading Gateway to the World
Virginia’s transportation infrastructure offers great advantages to
businesses. Goods and services can be easily provided to customers anywhere
in the world. Virginia’s central location on the U.S. East Coast makes
it possible to reach more than 50% of the U.S. population within a 750-mile
radius. Our transportation advantages are enhanced by an extensive system
of highways, railroads, airports and seaports.
- With six major interstate highways, Virginia has the third largest state
maintained transportation network in the country providing quick access to
the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest
- The Port of Virginia offers world-class shipping facilities and a schedule
of more than 5,100 sailings annually to over 250 ports in 100 foreign countries.
It is the second largest intermodal facility on the East Coast based on container
shipments. Leading destinations for Virginia’s forest-products include
Canada, Europe and China
- Eleven railroads operate on more than 3,400 miles of railway in Virginia
– 3,100 miles are Class I. Two of the nation’s largest railroads
have extensive infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth: CSX Corporation
and Norfolk Southern Corporation
- Norfolk Southern Corporation’s Heartland Corridor will clear the
way for double-stacked freight cars to travel directly from the port at Norfolk
to Chicago. It will cut a half-day and more than 200 miles off the trip reducing
shipping cost by about $500 per container
- Fourteen commercial airports serve Virginia; nine of them are located in
the state, including two of the nation’s largest – Washington
Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National. Scheduled commercial
airline service is provided to over 130 non-stop destinations around the world
Click image to view a larger map
Virginians Are the Advantage
Virginia’s workforce is readily recruitable, highly productive and comes
with the benefits of strong work ethic and moderate cost. With a population
of 7.6 million and a workforce of almost 4 million people, Virginia successfully
supports the state’s substantial industry base. Our workforce participants
are constantly updating their labor skills and look for opportunities to apply
their talents to new companies choosing Virginia. Growing faster than the national
average, our workforce stands ready to fulfill present and future industry needs.
Labor Resources & Training
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Virginia ranks in the top 10 in labor productivity
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More than 420,000 Virginians are enrolled in over 100 institutions
of higher education
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About 48,000 associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral
degrees are awarded annually by Virginia’s public institutions
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Virginia Tech’s Department of Wood Science and Forest
Products, ranked among the top three forestry programs in a study in the
Journal of Forestry. The department offers programs including chemistry,
wood processing / automation and timber engineering
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More than 24,500 doctoral scientists and engineers reside
in Virginia
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Danville Community College is in the process of establishing
the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Wood Products Technology that
will provide for the immediate needs of employers and put into place educational
programs to provide for the needs of the future
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Strong occupational and technical training programs, designed
to meet the needs of the forest products industry, are provided by the Virginia
Community College System, through its 23 colleges.
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WoodLINKS, a new training program in Southside Virginia
intended to commence in the summer of 2007, is designed to support the ongoing
needs of the new and existing wood-based advanced manufacturing projects
in Virgini
