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Alexis Ehrhardt believes anchor institutions are key to regional economic development
September 29, 2026
Alexis Ehrhardt has spent five years in the Richmond Region and says she keeps finding new reasons our area stands out. As Vice President for Government Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University, she spends her days thinking about how VCU can be a stronger partner to the public, private and nonprofit organizations around it, and how the university’s workforce pipeline and research can serve the region as a whole.
It’s a job built around a simple idea: Unlike a company that can pack up and relocate, a university stays put. VCU employs thousands of people, buys goods and services locally, and trains much of the workforce other regional employers hire – the kind of permanence economists call an “anchor institution.”
A 2026 economic impact analysis found VCU generates $15.8 billion in economic activity annually within the Richmond metro area and supports nearly 81,000 jobs, or roughly one in every 12 jobs in the region. The university also set a sponsored research record in 2024, topping $500 million for the first time, a figure that has since climbed past $568 million. For Alexis, those numbers tell only part of the story, and the rest is what that scale does when it’s put to work locally.
A career spent connecting higher ed to economic development
Alexis’ interest in that intersection predates her time in Richmond. She spent more than 20 years in Southern Virginia, mostly in higher education, where she focused on strengthening ties between colleges and regional workforce development. She went on to lead a regional Chamber of Commerce and serve on the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, an experience that shaped how she now approaches VCU’s role in Greater Richmond.
“It is a privilege to engage in regional economic development, knowing that while it is a long-term, complex process with many stakeholders, the benefits will be great for the Richmond Region and those who live here,” Alexis said.
Why Richmond works
Ask Alexis what makes Greater Richmond a strong place for business, and she points to the basics: high quality of life, superior educational opportunities, access to incredible healthcare, and a strong workforce.
She also points to something harder to measure but just as real, a regional habit of civic involvement.
There is a culture of service in our communities, allowing people at all stages of their careers to engage and improve life in our region…
Dr. Alexis Ehrhardt
Vice President for Government Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University
Outside of work, Alexis takes part in that culture herself, spending time outdoors on the trails near the James River, at outdoor concerts, or at one of the region’s farmers’ markets.
Why VCU supports GRP
Since its founding in 1994, GRP has helped bring 582 new and expanding companies to Greater Richmond, representing roughly $15.4 billion in investment and more than 66,500 jobs. Alexis sees VCU’s role as complementary to that work: The university builds the talent and research base to give the region something to sell, while GRP builds the relationships to bring companies here to use it.
“GRP is a critical convener and contributor in our region, bringing together public, private and nonprofit partners to think strategically about our region’s future,” Alexis said. “As an anchor institution, I am proud that VCU supports GRP as we continue to make outstanding progress in economic development in the Richmond Region.”
Looking ahead
For Alexis, the case for institutions like VCU shows up in research dollars, graduates who stay and work in the region, and a deeper bench of talent for local employers to draw from. As VCU’s research funding and enrollment continue to grow, she expects the university’s role in the region’s economic story to grow with it.
