SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
Virginia’s
Scenic Gateway As the trivia question goes, Lee County in far Southwest Virginia is closer to eight other state capitals than it is to Richmond. The westernmost corner of the Commonwealth is midway between Atlanta and Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Cincinnati, and Richmond and Louisville. That placement, along with strong nearby infrastructure — seven interstate highways run within close proximity to its borders, accessible via four-lane highways in the region — makes Southwest Virginia an advantageous location for companies looking to reach markets east of the Mississippi River. The region is known as Virginia’s e-Region because of its broadband access and focus on electronic information technology, energy, emerging technologies, education, and entrepreneurship. Major IT and data center companies such as Northrop Grumman, CGI, SAIC, SYKES Enterprises, Inc., and DP Facilities have chosen to operate in Southwest Virginia alongside leading manufacturers like Tempur Sealy International and Tadano Mantis.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA OFFERS Two popular historical driving trails that showcase the area’s culture — The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail and The Wilderness Road: Virginia’s Heritage Migration Route 56
An abundant natural resource base in timber, metallurgical coal, limestone, and natural gas, and growing renewable energy development
A cost of living more than 20% lower than the national average