ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
IN HAMPTON ROADS, VA
Located in southeastern Virginia, Hampton Roads is a diverse region offering a variety of lifestyles and assets for individuals, businesses and organizations of every variety. Residents can choose from an urban setting, a suburban neighborhood or a rural environment while enjoying an average commute of less than 25 minutes.
Home to the deepest natural harbor and the fastestgrowing port on the East Coast, Hampton Roads offers convenient access to the world’s markets via its integrated transportation network connecting the seaport to interstate highways and rail services. Located midway between Maine and Florida, the region’s central location provides access to 47% of the U.S. population — more than 130 million consumers — within a day’s drive.
INDUSTRY LEADERS
HAMPTON ROADS, VA
With a corporate income tax rate of only 6% that has not increased since 1972, streamlined permitting processes, a right-to-work law and minimal union activity, Virginia hosts a stable, inviting operating environment.
WAGES & OCCUPATIONS
Hampton Road offers competitive wages. The region’s mean annual wage rate across all occupations is nearly 8% below the U.S. average.
$52,170
$56,310
MEAN HOURLY WAGES FOR TOP MANUFACTURING OCCUPATIONS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Machinists
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE
Hampton Roads is located within FTZ- 20, a Foreign Trade Zone, allowing manufacturers to save significantly on duties payments and store goods for an unlimited period of time.
TRANSPORTATION AND CONNECTIVITY
An integrated network of interstates and highways connect Hampton Roads to major U.S. markets. Over $12.5 billion will be spent by 2027 to improve the region’s infrastructure. I-64 provides a loop around Hampton Roads before heading west to Richmond. Routes 58 & 460 serve as direct connectors to north-south Interstates I-85/I-95. Route 13 reduces a trip to the Northeast by 90 miles by providing a short-cut through Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Hampton Roads is home to The Port of Virginia — and four of its six terminals — with 50-foot channels and no overhead restrictions. The port is connected to 200+ countries through 30 shipping lines.
The region is served by CSX & Norfolk Southern and is augmented by short line rail partners. On-dock rail is offered at two of the Port of Virginia’s terminals.
WORKFORCE
TALENT & HIGHER ED.
VIRGINIA TALENT ACCELERATOR
Programs at Virginia’s colleges & universities focus on training and research for advanced manufacturers. In Hampton Roads, Operation Next offers the thousands of men and women exiting the military the chance to receive a certificate in advanced Manufacturing. This self-paced training initiative helps veterans and their spouses earn credentials for indemand skills, including welding or CNC machining, at minimal or no cost. The program is a collaboration between Old Dominion University’s Maritime Industrial Base Ecosystem (MIBE), the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and the Community College Workforce Cooperative. The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program provides world-class training and recruitment solutions that are customized to a company’s unique operations, equipment, standards and culture. All services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation.
Hampton Roads is home to 12 colleges & universities, 21 trade & technical schools, 128,000+ students and 1,800+ annual graduates in production-related programs.
Manufacturing jobs in Hampton Roads have risen by 9.7% since 2017 compared to -2.3% contraction nationally.
21,000+ military personnel exit the services annually in the state of Virginia.
15,000+ military personnel exit the services annually in the Hampton Roads region.
WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY
71%
Hampton Roads boasts key industry occupations with regional LQs more than twice as concentrated as the national average including:
2.91 4.44 Commercial & Industrial Designers
Sheet Metal Workers
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
In 1976, Bauer Kompressoren crossed the Atlantic from Munich, Germany and founded Bauer Compressors in Norfolk, Virginia, marking the start of Bauer’s expansion into North America. Bauer manufacturers high-pressure compressors which fill breathing air cylinders used by first responders, military and divers, in addition to a broad range of high-pressure compressor system solutions for a diverse group of industries. Bauer selected the Hampton Roads region to better reach its U.S. markets initially and is now serving international clients taking advantage of the Port of Virginia.
of Virginia’s exiting military are located in Hampton Roads.
NEXT GEN MANUFACTURING INCENTIVES
The Commonwealth of Virginia and the 15 localities of Hampton Roads have a variety of incentives for businesses that open an operation. Incentives may include grants for job creation, capital investment, or to offset training costs, or in the form of tax relief of items including machinery & tools. Specific information is available upon request.
KEY SITES
SHIRLEY T. HOLLAND INTERMODAL PARK
VIRGINIA PORT LOGISTICS PARK
CAMP PARKWAY COMMERCE CENTER
HAMPTON ROADS CENTER NORTH
OAKLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK
JAMES RIVER COMMERCE CENTER
YORK RIVER COMMERCE PARK
OCEANA SOUTH INDUSTRIAL PARK
THREE OAKS @ GREENBRIER COMMERCE PARK
Hampton Roads is seeing an exponential rise in manufacturing in next generation industries, including unmanned systems and offshore wind. Huntington Ingalls Industries recently opened an Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence where they will produce large undersea vessels for the Navy. In addition, major companies including Siemens Gamesa and Orsted are gearing up to support the offshore wind industry, while existing maritime manufacturers are diversifying their product line to support the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
The Hampton Roads Alliance is dedicated to assisting you with your business investment or expansion needs across our 15 localities.
The decision to invest in a new or expanded operation is never taken lightly. Our goal is to match the business needs required for your company to be successful with the assets found in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Our objective is to facilitate the evaluation process and provide powerful tools that save you time and money as you seek to locate your new business operations in Hampton Roads. Connect with us today.
www.HamptonRoadsAlliance.com
