A thriving pro-business environment

The VMR is located in a thriving pro-business, right-to-work state with plentiful building sites, generous financial incentives, and government-assisted programs.

Extensive Economic Development Opportunities

With rural and metropolitan areas, VMR is a robust region with many opportunities for advanced manufacturing. Lower taxes make VMR a smart choice for anyone seeking to do business. The region has a strong agricultural heritage and rich forest resources, and in recent years manufacturing activity and service-related industries have prospered. It boasts vast woodlands, abundant mineral resources, a plentiful water supply, and easy accessibility to vast metro areas in all directions.

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Logistics & Distribution

A strategic location, advanced transportation networks, and a strong workforce draw logistics companies worldwide to the Gateway Region, from major e-commerce distributors to medical devices, groceries and all industries in between.

  • Seaports, airports, railroads, and a population of 1.3 million are all inside the workforce area
  • Proximity to Port of Virginia for international shipping
  • 41 percent of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive
  • Shovel-ready sites and existing high-bay distribution space with direct interstate access and rail siding are available
  • There are over 100 trucking companies with more than 21,000 trucks based in the metropolitan area
  • Norfolk Southern and CSX operate intersecting Class 1 rail services locally, with half of Virginia’s total truck-railcar intermodal facilities
  • UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service operate major hubs in the area and provide third-party logistics (3PL) services, along with expertise concentrated at the UPS Freight national headquarters
  • U.S. military logistics training and operations cluster includes Army Logistics University at Fort Lee and the Defense Supply Center Richmond, concentrating much of the Army’s logistics and contracting personnel and expertise in the area
  • Foreign trade zone status in many parts of the region lowers import/export cost
  • Customize your workforce training program with the Community College Workforce Alliance

  • Public-private research partnership (Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing) makes the region a focal point for the manufacturing research expertise of Virginia’s top universities and the top corporate innovators