The Virginia Advantage

The Virginia Advantage

Virginia is home to a global tech industry ecosystem, bestin-class talent development pipeline, and top-ranked universities driving cuttingedge research. Virginia is ready to meet the skilled workforce needs and industry growth demands.

Canon U.S.A. Inc., Newport News

BAE Systems, McLean Micron Technology, Inc., Manassas

Front Cover (top left, to bottom): Virginia International Gateway, Portsmouth; Downtown Richmond; Sumitomo Drive Technologies, Chesapeake; Old Rag Mountain, Madison County; The MITRE Corporation, McLean; Virginia Tech Innovation Campus rendering, Alexandria; Appian, Fairfax County

Robust Talent Pipeline

Virginia is the sixth most educated state in the U.S. and is the most educated state in the South in terms of percentage of population with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The Commonwealth has almost 350,000 workers in advanced materials manufacturing and related occupations as well as over 315,000 people working in the tech sector and/or tech occupations.

Companies can draw from these workers as well as engineering graduates from nearby top universities, and from the many service members exiting the armed services from military installations in Virginia each year.

Largest U.S. Investment in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Education

Through its historic, innovative Tech Talent Investment Program, targeted philanthropic gifts, corporate partnerships, and K-12 computer science initiatives, Virginia is investing more than $2 billion to expand its tech talent pipeline, doubling the number of graduates each year in computer science and closely related fields. Additionally, Virginia higher education institutions already produce roughly 12,000 tech-related degrees and certificates annually in areas ranging from computer science to modeling and simulation.

Fully Customized Workforce Training and Recruitment Solution

Virginia further ensures that new or expanding companies can quickly attract and onboard high-quality employees by offering a world-class, fully customized talent acquisition and training solution through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program – provided at no cost to qualified companies as an incentive for job creation.

University of Virginia

Virginia Tech

George Mason University

Strategic East Coast Location

Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic location offers companies proximity to economic centers up and down the East Coast, including critical customer markets like the federal government, Northeast Corridor, and Southeast metro areas. Additionally, Virginia has a variety of large and midsize sites that accommodate aggressive production timelines and industry-specific infrastructure needs.

16 commercial airports serving Virginia with direct flights to 100+ domestic and 50+ international destinations

2,000+ miles of fiber, ensuring ubiquitous access to broadband for tech firms

47% of the U.S. population located in the Eastern Time Zone

$36.6 billion committed for transportation projects over the next six years

Attractive Business Environment

Committed to being the best business partner at the local, regional, and state level, Virginia is widely recognized for its favorable regulatory climate and consistently rated one of the best-run states in the country. Virginia also customizes incentives packages to mitigate risks.

■ Virginia has one of the oldest right-to-work laws in the country and is the northernmost right-to-work state along the I-95 Corridor.

■ Virginia has had a stable 6% corporate income tax rate, one of the lowest in the nation, since 1972.

■ Sound economic policy and prudent financial management has earned Virginia a AAA credit rating since 1938 — longer than any other state.

Virginia’s Unparalleled Quality of Life

With its competitive cost of living, mild four-season climate, and unrivaled natural, cultural, and historical attractions, Virginia is renowned for its exceptional quality of life. Virginians enjoy vibrant cities and picturesque small towns within easy driving distance of both scenic shorelines and mountain vistas. The Commonwealth’s mix of rich history, culture, diverse recreation options, and quintessential Southern charm led Forbes to rank Virginia as the best state for quality of life.

Arlington Skyline

Monticello, Albemarle County

Sharp Top Mountain, Bedford County

The Omni Homestead Resort, Bath County