Contents
A Message From Mayor Paul D. Fraim
5 Building Our Future Now 8 Major Projects Under Way
13 Investment: New & Expanding Businesses 15 Market Comparisons 21 Strategic Assets 33 Economic Development Resources 39 Economic Profile
Mayor Paul D. Fraim
Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, Ward 3
Andrew A. Protogyrou, Ward 1
Theresa W. Whibley, MD, Ward 2
City Manager Marcus D. Jones
Paul R. Riddick, Ward 4
Thomas R. Smigel, Jr. Ward 5
Barclay C. Winn, Angelia M. Williams, Superward 6 Superward 7
PRODUCTION COORDINATION
EDITING
City of Norfolk Breck Daughtrey | City Clerk 757.664.4253
Stacey Klemenc | 757.427.6355
Sarah Parker Assistant Director of Development — Marketing 757.664.4338
DIRECTOR OF SALES Bill Blake 757.222.3165 ADVERTISING SALES
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Robin Simmons John Kinsley
Mike Herron | Inside Business 757.222.3991
BUSINESS MANAGER Debbi Wilson
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Olga Currie
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GRAPHIC DESIGN Pico Design & Illustration | 757.493.0370 www.picodesign.net
150 W. Brambleton Ave. | Norfolk, Virginia 23510 757.222.5353 | insidebiz.com
Thank you for your interest in this annual update on Norfolk, its economy, its businesses and industries and attributes important to the city’s continued vitality and development. In past years, this report presented information spanning the functional and operational activities of the city. As our efforts to expand the tax base, encourage the growth of new businesses and increase our jobs base continue to build, so does the need to expand this resource for our businesses and economic development community. I believe you will find the additional new content both informative and useful, and invite you to share your thoughts with me about it. This year promises to be a pivotal one for our city in several areas. One of those is transportation. From the opening of light rail last August and the announcement that intercity passenger rail service from Harbor Park to Washington and points north will begin this December to the agreement between the Commonwealth and Elizabeth River Crossings that allows work to begin on a second Midtown Tunnel, we are seeing real progress on the transportation front. As home to the world’s largest U.S. Naval Base and with a proud heritage as a center for national defense, Norfolk is one the nation’s military capitals. Military and defense spending account for 45 percent of the regional economy. We are also ranked as the second best place in the country to look for a job for persons retiring from the military. The goal is for Norfolk to be the best city in the country for the military to do business and for veterans to live and work. To help guide our efforts we will be establishing a Military Economic Development Advisory Committee to enhance coordination between the city and the Navy and to grow the military’s presence here. We will also establish a separate Commission on Veterans Affairs to advise us on issues and concerns that affect veterans and their families. Norfolk is fortunate to have nearly as many jobs as it has people. We lead the region in average compensation, and over the last decade our poverty rate has declined. But we can do better. With a program called Employ Norfolk that will be operated out of the department of economic development, we will seek to increase employment rates, lower the poverty rate, increase enrollment in technical education programs, increase the number of GED recipients and increase awareness of job openings and job training opportunities. Success here will produce benefits across the city. Inside you will find more information on these and other topics. Please enjoy this update on Norfolk’s progress and plans. Thank you for your commitment and for all you do to make Norfolk a better home for our families, for our children and for our grandchildren. Sincerely, Paul D. Fraim Mayor