Virginia has done it again, receiving another top ranking on the Forbes.com annual Best States for Business study. Virginia ranked No. 4 this year and had previously held the No. 1 or 2 spot since the inception of the study in 2006. While we are accustomed to a higher billing, Virginia is honored to receive the continued recognition from Forbes as a best state for business.

The Forbes.com ranking is based on six categories pulled from 36 points of data — costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

Highlights for the Commonwealth of Virginia include the No. 1 ranking for its regulatory environment. Forbes.com touted Virginia’s strong incentive offerings and business-friendly government policies.

Virginia ranked No. 2 for labor supply and was the top state on the East Coast. The Commonwealth’s skilled and well-educated workforce has long been esteemed by Virginia companies as a key component in their success. In addition, Virginia has the highest concentration of high-tech workers according to the TechAmerica Foundation’s Cyberstates 2013.

Virginia received a No. 5 ranking for quality of life. The Commonwealth’s favorable cost of living combined with access to natural resources, from the ocean to the mountains, and its historical, cultural and sports and entertainment offerings make Virginia a great place to live and work.

Concern over the effects of sequestration led to a lower score in the growth prospects category, ultimately affecting Virginia’s overall ranking this year. The growth prospects category includes a five-year forecast from Moody’s Analytics.

VEDP and the Virginia economic development community have long realized the potential impact of sequestration to our economy, and today’s No. 4 ranking further illustrates the new economic challenge facing Virginia.    

The Commonwealth is committed to attracting new jobs and capital investment, and cultivating new economic growth through a proactive and aggressive economic development program. Initiatives like VEDP’s Going Global Defense Initiative, which helps Virginia defense companies mitigate the impact of federal spending cuts by launching an international strategy and growing revenue in markets overseas, will play an important role as we build a new Virginia economy.

In the meantime, Virginia takes pride in our strong showing in the 2014 Forbes.com Best States for Business report. We continue to be ranked a best state because Virginia offers a business-friendly environment, favorable operating costs, a top workforce and premier East Coast location and transportation network. To learn why companies have prospered in the Commonwealth for more than 400 years, click here.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corp.

The Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation was recently established in Halifax County, Va., through the merging of the National Tire Research Center and SoVa Motion.

The facility will remain at the Virginia Motorsports Technology Park, adjacent to the Virginia International Raceway, which is the longest motorsports road course in the U.S. with 4.2 miles of tarmac.

The National Tire Research Center was established in 2010 through a public-private partnership among the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, General Motors, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

The tire center houses the Flat Trac LTRe, an $11.3 million, high-performance tire testing machine that allows speeds of 200 mph on car, truck and motorsports vehicles. Due to strong customer demand, the center has grown from 13 to 26 employees, and expects to expand beyond 30 employees over the next year.

NTRC has previously partnered with SoVa Motion (Southern Virginia Vehicle Motion Lab), which is operated by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. SoVa Motion has an eight-post shaker rig and driving simulator which can replicate various road conditions and many of the world’s racing tracks to test driver performance, shock and suspension reaction, on-vehicle sensing, as well as virtually prototype vehicle components.

While the facilities have served major U.S. customers, such as General Motors, Goodyear Racing and NASCAR, rebranding as GCAPS reflects the increasing global scope of their customer base.

GCAPS will also build upon the success of its math modeling and simulation capabilities by adding a virtual design and integration laboratory. The facility will provide full performance testing of highway and racetrack vehicles in both physical and virtual environments.

GCAPS is a key part of Virginia’s Motorsports Alley and augments the Commonwealth’s strengths in the automotive industry. To learn why more than 150 automotive companies call Virginia home, click here.

Executive Director Frank Della Pia appears next to a tire testing machine at the newly-branded Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation in Halifax County, Va. Photo courtesy of the Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation.

VEDP recently released two new marketing tools for use on mobile devices.

First, the YesVA App version 2.0 was released to the Apple App Store. For those who have already downloaded the original app to your iPad or iPhone, you can obtain the new version in the Updates section of the App Store.

New features for the YesVA App version 2.0 include:

• Overall redesign to iOS 7 standards for design and user interface
• The ability to filter properties by region
• Better property grouping and functionality in map view
• Better search functionality which matches the search function of the VirginiaScan desktop version

There were no changes made to the Android version. For those who have never downloaded the app, links to both the Apple and Android versions are available at http://www.YesVirginia.org/aboutus/app.

Second, we have also released the VEDP iBook. This interactive sales tool allows economic development professionals to present to clients on the road using only an iPad. The VEDP iBook links directly to VirginiaScan for property searches and the Compare Virginia tool for side-by-side comparisons between Virginia and other states and MSAs on key economic metrics.

Content also includes video testimonials from C-level industry peers and interactive graphical presentations of Virginia’s premier assets, including our workforce, infrastructure and transportation network.

These interactive tools are another demonstration of the innovation that is alive and well in the Commonwealth. We hope these will assist our economic development partners in marketing Virginia as the best state for business to companies across the globe. To learn more, click here.

A view of the VEDP iBook homepage.

Earlier this month, schools and companies partnered to host 17 events across Virginia as part of the second annual national Manufacturing Day campaign.

One such event included students from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools for the second year. Students, teachers and guidance counselors were given tours of the manufacturing plants at six local companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Ball Corp., Coresix Precision Glass, Owens-Illinois, Printpack Inc. and Walmart Distribution Center.

Students learned about the diversity of careers in manufacturing, as well the high-tech skills needed to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing.

The students also learned about the various paths available to prepare for this type of career. Representatives from Thomas Nelson Community College were on hand to discuss coursework they offer to prepare students to directly enter the manufacturing workforce or continue on to a four-year degree.

The event was sponsored by WJCC Public Schools, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and James City County.

A WJCC guidance counselor also attended another Manufacturing Day event nearby at Newport News Shipbuilding. The program allowed 13 area high school guidance counselors to tour the Welding School and The Apprentice School to view hands-on demonstrations of trades training.

Manufacturing Day is a national program that encourages manufacturing companies across the U.S. to open their doors and provide tours for high school students in their communities. The purpose is to dispel misperceptions about the industry and inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing after seeing the high-tech, rewarding career paths available to them.

The Manufacturing Day events in Virginia illustrate the Commonwealth’s leadership in preparing students for advanced manufacturing careers and developing a workforce with the skills to meet industry needs. To learn more, click here.

Virginia students tour the Anheuser-Busch control room and learn about the high-tech nature of today’s advanced manufacturing careers. Photo courtesy of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence.

VEDP was named a “Best in Class” economic development organization today at the International Economic Development Council’s Annual Conference.

The results were tabulated by Development Counsellors International as part of its 2014 “Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing” report. DCI conducts a survey among U.S. corporate executives and site selection consultants every three years.

“The leading economic development organizations identified in this year’s survey set the standard across the country for being ‘Best in Class’ on so many levels and clearly stand out to site selectors across the country,” said DCI President Andrew T. Levine. “As states look at how to build and strengthen relationships with site selectors and influence corporate executives’ decisions on where to locate, invest and create jobs, ‘Winning Strategies’ provides a glimpse into the minds of this important audience.”

VEDP tied for sixth place with 15 percent of the responding executives and location advisors identifying us as a top economic development organization.

During FY2014, VEDP assisted on 183 projects that resulted in announcements of 15,029 new jobs and $5.19 billion in invested capital. These 183 projects will generate an estimated $280 million of new state tax revenue for Virginia after five years and approximately $620 million after 10 years. These projects will also generate an estimated $276 million of local tax revenue after five years and approximately $612 million after 10 years.

VEDP’s recognition as a “Best in Class” organization from one of our key markets — executives and location advisors — makes this award all the more meaningful and illustrates that we are on track to fulfill our mission:

"To enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development, thereby expanding the tax base and creating higher-income employment opportunities."

To learn more about how VEDP can assist your business, click here.

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium recently announced a new program called STEM Takes Flight at Virginia’s Community Colleges funded by a $500,000 grant from NASA.

The purpose of the initiative is to augment STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education within the Virginia Community College System and build stronger connectivity with NASA to provide students with world-class learning and research opportunities.

STEM Takes Flight at Virginia’s Community Colleges offers a full suite of programs that includes real-world internships, research experiences, additional coursework and faculty training.

One example is the Build/Fly/Learn component which allows students to work on paid summer research projects at both NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. This opportunity is available to 38 community college rising sophomores who work in teams under the guidance of a NASA mentor.

Additional coursework includes two multi-disciplinary classes on mission development and planning offered through Virginia’s Eastern Shore Community College, which will allow students to develop and fly a sounding rocket payload. A third course covers sea level rise and its impact on coastal communities. It’s available online and led by Virginia Western and Thomas Nelson Community Colleges.

VCCS faculty will also receive additional training through a residential professional development STEM workshop at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. Twenty professors will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on case study beginning June 2015.

The STEM Takes Flight program is another example of Virginia’s premier higher education system that provides real-world experiences to ensure Virginia’s workforce pipeline is ready to meet the industry needs of the future. To learn more about Virginia’s higher education and workforce training solutions, click here.

James Carter, a former NASA Langley Research Center intern, researches heat calibrations on model spray coatings.

James Madison University and partners have joined together to create the Ice House, a revitalized building complex in downtown Harrisonburg that will serve as a center of collaboration and engagement for JMU students, entrepreneurs and citizens in the local community.

Formerly known as the Cassco Ice House complex, the building was constructed in 1934 for ice and cold storage to support the region’s distribution of agricultural products. Operations were discontinued in 2004 and the building was unused until the recent revitalization plans rechristened it the Ice House.

The name references both the building’s history as well as a JMU initiative called ICE, an acronym for Innovation-Collaboration-Entrepreneurship. JMU seeks to become a model of engagement that mobilizes resources from the university and community to launch new businesses and commercialize technology.

Phase one of the project is complete and JMU has occupied 30,000 of the 80,000-square-foot building with departments such as Outreach and Engagement, the Office of Technology Innovation, Communications and Marketing, the JMU Small Business Development Center, the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Lifelong Learning Institute.

The principal developers of the Ice House project are both JMU alumni and the furniture was designed and built by JMU’s Industrial Design students.

The building currently offers space available for rent that includes offices, event space, a kitchen, and classrooms and conference rooms fit with touchscreen A/V equipment and web conferencing capabilities.

Phase two of the project includes plans to make the Ice House a center of the downtown community with restaurants, a brewery, yoga studio, retail space and loft apartments.

The project is a win-win for the university and the community. Small business owners and entrepreneurs gain better access to JMU’s resources, and JMU students benefit from working on live projects with real businesses.

JMU and its programs at the Ice House are another example of how the Commonwealth’s premier colleges and universities provide real-world experience to Virginia students and innovative ways to collaborate with the local community. To learn more, click here.

A view of the open office and collaborative space at the Ice House in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. Photo courtesy of James Madison University.

Recently, a group of economic development professionals toured the new Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences building at Mary Baldwin College in Fishersvillle, Va.

Classes are well underway — the school officially opened this past June and welcomed its inaugural class of 70 occupational therapy and physical therapy students.

The state-of-the-art building is 55,000 square feet, with a central atrium that encompasses all three stories. The tech-rich environment incorporates multimedia with cameras that allow students to see a close-up demonstration during class, as well as view a recording of the session.

The nine clinical laboratories include a neurological lab room, simulation lab, multiple skills labs, a human anatomy and a virtual anatomy lab. The multimedia environment also includes four large classrooms and six seminar rooms. 

The building was designed as a place where students can congregate after class to continue learning. The open architecture allows for multiple collaboration spaces, and the building includes a café and break room with lockers. The myriad of windows lets in natural light, making it a place where students want to be.

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences is currently training doctoral students in both physical therapy and occupational therapy, with plans to add a master’s degree for physician assistants and a degree-completion program for nurses in 2015.

The school is located in the center of the Augusta County medical corridor. Adjacent to the Augusta Health hospital complex, it offers easy access to I-64 and is just seven miles from Mary Baldwin’s main campus.

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences is another example of how Virginia’s higher education institutions are using cutting edge technology to prepare a workforce ready to add value as soon as they enter the employment pipeline. To learn more about Virginia’s world-class education system, click here.

Mary Baldwin College welcomes its inaugural class of occupational and physical therapy students at the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences new building in Fishersville, Va. Photo courtesy of Mary Baldwin College.

Where can a student work on a live project alongside classmates from the Schools of Arts, Business, Engineering, and the Humanities and Sciences? VCU’s da Vinci Center.

Companies in the greater Richmond area submit a product innovation problem to the da Vinci Center. Art, design, business and engineering students then work on cross-functional teams to develop an innovative solution, sponsored by the company.

The da Vinci Center prepares Virginia students to enter the workforce and hit the ground running, armed with the innovative and entrepreneurial thinking they will need to tackle everyday problems on the job. While students major in one area of study, the program allows them to see through the lens of multiple disciplines. It also emulates the way different departments work together to solve problems in a corporate environment.

Housed in the Pauley Pavilion, part of the School of Engineering, the center offers a multi-use space that facilitates product development from idea generation to market validation. Students have access to rapid prototyping machines and computer modeling and 3D object scanning equipment.

VEDP’s own economist, Michael Gilbert, was a da Vinci Center participant during his time at VCU. He worked on a minimally-invasive surgery trainer for physicians at MCV.

“The experience gained was invaluable,” said Gilbert. “Working on a cross-functional team with students from the School of the Arts, School of Engineering, and School of Business provided me insight and skills I still use today. Developing intellectual property on the team and through the course as an undergraduate is something I will never forget.”

The center offers two programs — an Undergraduate Certificate in Product Innovation and a Master of Product Innovation. The center is currently accepting applications for its spring 2015 class.

The da Vinci Center is yet another example of the cutting edge programs Virginia’s colleges and universities offer to prepare the workforce of tomorrow. To learn more about the Commonwealth’s premier higher education system, click here.

A group of students at VCU’s da Vinci Center develop a surgery trainer for MCV physicians. Photo courtesy of VCU da Vinci Center project team.

VEDP received six communications awards for its marketing collateral at the SEDC (Southern Economic Development Council) Communication Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony was held this August in conjunction with the 2014 SEDC Annual Conference in Atlanta, where more than 350 economic development professionals gathered for three days to learn about current economic development trends and strategies.

The six awards presented to VEDP included:

• Special Judges Award for Online Content and Mobile Access recognizing VEDP’s website
• Award of SUPERIOR for VEDP’s website relaunch
• Award of EXCELLENCE for VEDP’s pocket brochure Map Out Success for Your Business in Virginia
• Award of MERIT for VEDP’s annual report Results 2013
• Award of MERIT for the VEDP marketing video Business Legacies Begin in Virginia
• Award of MERIT in Thinking Outside the Box for VEDP’s webinar Innovation in Virginia: Live from the National Innovation Summit

“VEDP hit the mark this year with their marketing campaigns,” said SEDC President Gene Stinson. “These campaigns not only show creativity, but also solid messaging and effectiveness at reaching their target audiences. We were wowed by all the entries we received this year, and were impressed with the high level of marketing work being done in economic development by SEDC members.

The judging panel consisted of economic development consultants, practitioners and design professionals from across the southern U.S. Criteria included graphic appeal, clarity of message, quality of information, positioning, differentiation and format.

VEDP markets the Commonwealth of Virginia to companies seeking new business locations, expansion and international trade opportunities. To see examples of VEDP’s award-winning marketing materials and learn why Virginia is the Best State for Business, click here.

VEDP Vice President of Business Attraction Mike Lehmkuhler accepts the Special Judges Award for Online Content and Mobile access on behalf of VEDP from SEDC Chairman Hal Johnson.

Last week, Governor McAuliffe celebrated the opening of Volvo Trucks’ new Customer Experience Track with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Dublin, Va.

The 1.1 mile track features two paved lanes, straight-a-ways and eight percent super-elevated curves to simulate highway conditions. There is also an off-road portion to replicate more challenging conditions, showcasing the range of the company’s Class 8 vehicles.

The track is located on the company’s nearly 300-acre New River Valley campus, which contains the largest Volvo Truck manufacturing facility in the world at 1.6 million square feet. The plant is certified to ISO 500001 energy, ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental standards.

The company drew from the expertise of its advanced manufacturing workforce to design and build the track. Employees even had a role in naming it the Twin Oaks Track after deciding to keep two oak trees in the center of the course.

Market demand has made significant strides since the recession, with the plant employing more than 2,500 workers. Earlier this summer, the company invested $69 million to add state-of-the-art equipment and redesign the facility to further improve efficiency and product quality, creating 200 new jobs in the process.

The track will likely draw additional customers to the New River Valley region to visit the plant and test drive potential Volvo Truck purchases.

It also augments Virginia’s thriving automotive industry which includes assets like the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, National Tire Research Center, SoVA Motion, National Crash Analysis Center, CCAM, C-CARE and the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center, to name a few.

To learn why more than 150 automotive companies call Virginia home and have announced $1.1 billion in capital investment over the last 10 years, click here.

Governor McAuliffe takes a test drive on Volvo Trucks’ new Customer Experience Track in Dublin, Va.

Virginia is celebrating Business Appreciation Month in Philadelphia this week by showcasing local breweries during BrewExpo America, the country’s largest craft brewery industry gathering.

America’s beer-brewing tradition began more than 400 years ago in historic Jamestown. Today, more than 130 licensed breweries call Virginia home and have an economic impact of $1 billion. The Commonwealth’s craft brewing industry began to flourish in 2012 when a new state law allowed breweries to sell their beer for on-premises consumption. In 2015, Virginia craft brewers produced 274,111 barrels of beer – 346% more than in 2011.

Across the Commonwealth, communities are engaged in helping the craft beer industry thrive. Virginia Tech hosts the largest, and one of few remaining, barley breeding programs in the eastern U.S. The university is also home to a state-of-the-art, new brewhouse and malting system to support industry research in fermentation and brewing.

The first commercial-scale hops drying and pelletizing facility in the Mid-Atlantic was created by Lucketts Mill & HopWorks at Black Hops Farm in Loudoun County. Michigan-based Pilot Malt House announced the opening of its second artisan craft malting operation in Loudoun County in 2015 at Black Hops Farm. The project is a collaboration between the Commonwealth, Loudoun County and Pilot Malt House and includes funding from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.

Richmond’s Hardywood has been a key player in Virginia’s thriving craft beer industry. Founded by lifelong friends, Hardywood has been brewing beer since 2011. The brewery’s beers have earned international praise with medals at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival in addition to receiving a rare 100 rating by BeerAdvocate Magazine. Hardywood was rated Virginia's Top Brewery by RateBeer.com users and Thrillist.com recognized it as Virginia’s Best Brewery. The Greater Richmond Chamber Business Council awarded Hardywood the Business of the Year Award in 2013.

In Alexandria, Port City Brewing Company opened its brewery in January 2011 to create more options for quality, locally produced craft beer to Northern Virginia. Port City Brewing Company was named Small Brewing Company of the Year at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, and has received numerous awards and recognition since 2011.

Virginia is proud to showcase its craft beer assets and local breweries at BrewExpo America. Governor Terry McAuliffe hosted a Virginia craft beer reception along with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia’s craft brewing community and our partners.

As we celebrate Virginia Business Appreciation Month, the craft beer industry serves as a great example of the passion and dedication of Virginia entrepreneurs. To learn why the Commonwealth is a great location to grow a business, click here.

Virginia team during BrewExpo America 2016

The Roanoke Valley Region has recently become a magnet for the automotive industry.

Italy-based ELDOR Corporation, a leading automotive supplier of ignition coils and systems, engine and electronic control units and full systems for hybrids, is the latest company to establish an operation in Botetourt County. A major deciding factor for the company was the region’s skilled workforce.

Thanks to Virginia Western Community College’s (VWCC) advanced technology education programs, there is a strong pipeline of skilled workers to serve the area’s growing automotive industry. VWCC offers an Associate degree in Applied Science with a focus on Mechatronic Systems Engineering Technology—a cross-discipline that combines mechanical, electrical and computer engineering to meet high performance manufacturing industry standards. The community college also offers a Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program to prepare students to work in the ever-growing complex technology industry. 

Students have access to the Fab Lab at VWCC, giving them digital fabrication resources as a platform for their own innovation and inventions. Automated Manufacturing instructor Daniel Horine showcased VWCC’s impressive equipment and training capabilities following the Governor’s ELDOR announcement last month. Attendees, including ELDOR’s executive team, got a personal tour of the community college’s Fab Lab.

The Mechatronics program at VWCC is a great testament to how higher education works to provide students with industry specific skills and create a steady workforce pipeline for area employers. To learn more about Virginia’s 23 community colleges, located on 40 campuses around the state, click here.

VWCC Automated Manufacturing instructor Daniel Horine gives ELDOR executives a tour of the Fab Lab.

Governor McAuliffe Signs Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea’s Jeollanam-do Provincial Government to strengthen economic and cultural ties.

VEDP joined Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore at the signing ceremony, and look forward to enhancing economic activity.

The Commonwealth and Jeollanam-do Province share a common desire to exchange information to enhance mutually beneficial economic and cultural activity, including research and development, governmental collaboration, and other related activity pertaining to growth industries, including information and communication technology, agriculture, logistics, energy, and other areas within the global market.

Over the past four decades, the Republic of Korea has demonstrated incredible economic growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy. Today, the Republic of Korea is the world's 12th largest economy, and ranks 12th among Virginia export destinations. Some of the top opportunities for U.S. exporters in South Korea include:

• Aerospace Industry
  
• Defense Industry Equipment
  
• Cosmetics
• Energy: New and Renewable
• Medical Equipment
• Laboratory Scientific Instruments
• Pollution Control Equipment
• Education Services

This agreement solidifies the importance of leveraging partnerships in order to build a new Virginia economy. To learn more about Virginia’s global focus, click here.

Governor Terry McAuliffe and Governor Nak Yon Lee of Jeollanam-do Provincial Government celebrate signing of MOU.

This week, VEDP sponsored and attended the Plastics News Executive Forum in Naples, Florida. We had the opportunity to talk with many of the world’s top plastics processors and share the benefits of doing business in Virginia.

Virginia’s strategic mid-Atlantic location and superior transportation network provide access to 43% of the U.S. population within a one-day (10 hour) drive. These assets combined with our competitive operating costs make an ideal location for plastics companies.

The Port of Virginia is a leading gateway to the global market, offering direct connection to over 100 foreign ports. The Port offers the single best infrastructure on the East Coast with no overhead obstructions, on-dock rail service, easy access to ocean lanes, and is the only East Coast port with Congressional authorization to dredge to 55 feet.

Virginia is home to over 200 plastics companies that employ more than 20,300 Virginians. A few companies who call Virginia home include Rubbermaid, TREX, General Packaging, Klockner Pentaplast, Hanwha Azdel and Variform.

Since 2005, plastics and advanced materials companies have invested $1.01 billion and created more than 4,600 new jobs in Virginia. To learn more about Virginia’s plastics industry, click here.

 
Panel of plastics professionals during the Plastics News Executive Forum.

The Port of Virginia signed a lease to continue operation of Richmond Marine Terminal through 2056 allowing the port to implement a long-term strategy to reinvest in RMT.

In order to modernize the 120-acre barge terminal, a $4.2 million 350-ton crane was installed at RMT, which will speed up the loading and unloading of the container barge.

A new barge was added with 50 percent more capacity to carry containers in a single trip. Rail upgrades, regular dredging, new cargo-moving equipment and other improvements are also scheduled to occur.

RMT is strategically located along the James River and I-95, and connects Richmond and the state to global trade through The Port of Virginia’s container terminals in the Norfolk Harbor.

The Port of Virginia offers direct service to more than 45 counties worldwide. It’s the only U.S. East Coast port with congressional authorization for 55-foot depth channels, and has the ability to be the first and last port of call.

To learn more about Virginia’s port and infrastructure advantages, click here.

New crane at Richmond Marine Terminal during lease signing event in Richmond.

Northern Virginia has surpassed the Tri-State New Jersey / New York region as the largest data center market in the U.S., with nearly 20 percent of the market share in enterprise demand in 2015, according to a study published by JLL.

Although Virginia’s data center industry is largely concentrated in Northern Virginia, the sector supports communities across the Commonwealth. In 2014, the total statewide economic impact attributable to the data center industry was approximately 36,043 jobs, $2.7 billion in wages, $8.6 billion in economic output, and $298.9 million in state and local tax revenue.

The substantial benefit of the data center industry boom across Virginia is highlighted in a recently published report by the Northern Virginia Technology Council —The Economic and Fiscal Contribution that Data Centers Make to Virginia.

According to the NVTC report, data centers are a critical part of the infrastructure that supports the modern economy, not only in the technology sector, but in advanced manufacturing, entertainment, finance, healthcare, information, retail, telecommunications, and almost every other sector of the economy as well.

The industry generates significant tax revenues. Data centers are very capital-intensive and that translates into a disproportionate amount of property tax revenue, by far the largest source of revenue for Virginia localities.

Click here to access NVTC’s full report and learn more about Virginia’s thriving data center industry.

The Virginia Jobs Investment Program celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Created in 1965 as part of the Industrial Training division of the Virginia Community College System, the program provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs or experiencing technological change.

VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for its citizens. It is estimated that VJIP has supported more than 2,500 projects, over 365,600 jobs and $29 billion in capital investment within its 50 years.

“For five decades, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program has continuously improved the professional delivery of services that positively impact our businesses’ most important resource—their labor pool. We are confident that VJIP, along with its higher education and workforce system partners, will continue to play an integral role in connecting growing businesses with Virginia’s talent for the next five decades to come,” said Governor McAuliffe.

VJIP was moved to the Virginia Department of Economic Development in 1985, and then to the Virginia Department of Business Assistance in 1998. In July 2014, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership became the administrator of the program, where it is now more closely aligned with Virginia’s economic development strategies and corporate outreach in an efficient way to partner with allies and serve companies more effectively.

Working closely with company personnel, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program offers consulting services at no charge, in addition to direct funding to offset eligible companies’ recruitment and training costs.

Assistance in any of the programs offered by VJIP is eligible to projects that create basic employment for the Commonwealth, as basic employment brings new income into the state, stimulates additional employment, and is the basis for further economic growth. These businesses or functions must directly or indirectly derive more than 50% of their revenues from out of state sources, as determined by VJIP.

For more information on VJIP, please visit http://www.yesvirginia.org/AssetRich/VJIP.

The VJIP team celebrates its 50^th anniversary during the December VEDA meeting.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s Welding program held its first completion ceremony on December 10.

The ceremony recognized the first 15 students to enroll in Welding@SVHEC, a short term, accredited training program that provides students with instruction in MIG, TIG, stick and pipe welding. This non-credit program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. Welding instruction takes place in the SVHEC’s new, state-of-the-art welding lab.

This program started in response to employer requests for more trained, certified workers. The SVHEC’s Workforce Services department worked with Virginia Technical Institute to bring this program to South Boston, Virginia.

Virginia has a nationally acclaimed education system which ensures businesses have a steady pipeline of skilled workers, and now adds another industry recognized program to Southern Virginia.

The Virginia Community College System provides occupational and technical training programs, many of which are designed specifically to meet the needs of surrounding employers. Welding@SVHEC is a great example of how Virginia works with both higher education and companies to provide students with industry specific skills. To learn more about Virginia’s 23 community colleges, located on 40 campuses around the state, click here.

Class of 2015 Welding@SVHEC completers and instructors in South Boston, Virginia.

Virginia has again received a top ranking in the Pollina Corporate Real Estate/AEDI Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2015. For the third straight year, the Commonwealth was ranked No. 4  overall and was the top state on the East Coast. Virginia was ranked in the top three from 2004-2012.

“Clearly a national leader in the 12 years of this study, no other state comes close to Virginia when it comes to being a consistent pro-business state. Virginia holds the distinction of being the only state to remain within the top five pro-business states for the entire history of this study,” said Brent A. Pollina, president of Park Ridge, Illinois-based Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. and author of the study.

Virginia received an overall grade of A as it has for the last five years. The Commonwealth was the No. 1 state in the Stage II section, which is based on metrics at the state economic development agency level, such as incentives and marketing/website/response to new and existing employers.

“Governor Terry McAuliffe and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership should be commended for their efforts to consistently remain competitive, as they have clearly worked to preserve the tools Virginia needs to remain one of the most pro-business state in the country,” continued Pollina.

The Pollina study is considered the “gold standard” for evaluating states on 32 factors controlled at the state government level, including taxes, human resources, education, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, regulatory environment, workers’ compensation laws and economic incentive programs.

Consistency of a state’s performance is an important consideration when companies are making long-term decisions about corporate site locations that require significant capital investment.

“The key to Virginia’s success is its ability to balance low taxes, a good labor force, and a strong economic development program. With a Stage I rank of #9 and a Stage II rank of #1, Virginia has one of the most well-rounded business climates in the nation.”

To learn why Virginia has the right resources that have allowed companies to prosper here for more than 400 years, click here.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Transportation.

Last week, VEDP joined Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and The Hague Security Delta for a cybersecurity event in Tysons Corner, Va.

The Hague Security Delta is based in the Netherlands and represents the largest security cluster of businesses, governments and academic institutions in Europe. It establishes partnerships with global security leaders to share knowledge, increase business activity and create a more secure world.

A delegation of almost 30 Dutch and Flemish companies attended the event in Tysons Corner to discuss security issues with leading Virginia technology companies and institutions.

The Hague Security Delta, Fairfax County EDA and VEDP closed the program by having representatives sign a Memorandum of Understanding to increase cooperation between the cybersecurity centers.

The parties pledged to bolster innovation-based collaboration by promoting trade with each country's industry clusters; encouraging mutual exchanges with business, government and academic leaders; fostering R&D cooperation through joint enterprises and research centers; exploring joint initiatives at the highest levels of government on security matters; and joining efforts to identify technology commercialization opportunities.

This event and agreement illustrates Virginia’s leadership in technology, once again. The Commonwealth is a key part of the nation’s Cyber Capital and a major hub in the cybersecurity industry. To learn more about Virginia’s cybersecurity assets, click here.

Ulrich Seldeslachts, CEO at LSEC; Ida Haisma, executive director of The Hague Security Delta; Martin Briley, president and CEO of VEDP; and Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of FCEDA; sign the MOU in Tysons Corner, Va. Photo courtesy of FCEDA.

VEDP Chief Operating Officer Dan Gundersen was awarded the International Economic Development Council’s 2015 Honorary Life Member Designation.

Gundersen was presented with the award this past Monday during the IEDC Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. He also served as moderator of the first session at the conference, “How to be a World Class Economic Developer,” where he led a panel with representatives from four continents who discussed innovative approaches and trends in economic development.

“The designation of Honorary Life Member is given by IEDC to an active or former member who is progressing the profession of economic development as a teacher, or, who has motivated others in several communities,” said JoAnn Crary, CEcD, Chair of the International Economic Development Council and President of Saginaw Future Inc. “Mr. Gundersen has been dedicated to our industry and has, indisputably, earned this distinction.”

VEDP created the COO position in the spring of 2014 to manage all day-to-day operations and develop competitive strategies for success. Gundersen was recruited to the job in Virginia due to his deep background as a senior economic development official in three other states:  New York, where he reported directly to the governor, both as Commissioner of Economic Development and as Upstate Chairman for the Empire State Development Corporation; Pennsylvania, where he held the number two job as Executive Deputy Secretary; and Maryland, where he was Assistant Secretary for Business Development.

At the metropolitan level, he led economic and workforce development efforts for Baltimore County, Md., where he produced the county’s first economic development operations strategy, and before that worked in Philadelphia with business leaders and the mayor to form public/private partnerships in impoverished neighborhoods. 

Throughout his career, Gundersen and his teams helped structure deals resulting in the creation and retention of more than 150,000 jobs. These projects include world, North American and regional headquarters facilities.

“As economic developers, our job is to help produce economic growth so that businesses succeed,” said Gundersen. “How we do that is complex. Why we do it, is what really matters. For me, economic development is about making a positive difference in people’s lives and communities. It’s that simple and powerful.”

To learn more about Gundersen’s work at VEDP, promoting Virginia as the location with the right combination of resources that have helped businesses succeed for more than 400 years, click here.