Greater Richmond continues to receive third party endorsements both as the place to do business and as the place to live. Greater Richmond was rated the third best metro center for business by Dow Jones MarketWatch, September 21, 2007. The area is also an economic development “hot spot,” rated fourth of the top 20 mid-sized metros by the National Policy Research Council in Expansion Management, October 2007.

Entrepreneurial success stories range from start ups at downtown Richmond's Virginia Biotechnology Research Park to Capital One, established in 1995 and now the area's second largest private employer with almost 7,000 associates.

In 2007, companies in a wide variety of industries announced plans to add new jobs and investment. Philip Morris USA opened a new Center for Research and Technology at the Virginia Biotechnology Park and announced that it would move its cigarette manufacturing operations from Cabarrus County, NC, to their Richmond area plant. Companies such as Bostwick Laboratories, Wellpoint, HCA and World Access plan expansions. Two international companies, backaldrin International GmbH and Rheingold GmbH chose Greater Richmond for their US operations.

Since 1994, more than 430 new and expanding companies have invested more than $6.2 billion in the region and total employment has increased by 121,400.

We invite you to contact us to arrange a VIP business tour. The Partnership will be pleased to show you how your business, whether large or small, can flourish here, assisted by stable taxes, a pro-business philosophy and an exceptional quality of life that attracts and keeps valued employees.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,