News
News | 2 min read
Greater Richmond Partnership awarded for AI usage in business attraction efforts
May 21, 2026
Business Facilities magazine, a leading resource for site selection and economic development, recognized the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP) for its work in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across marketing, research and business development activities in its 2026 EDO Awards.
“As a small team, we’re always looking for ways to boost productivity and lead in industry best practices,” said Jennifer Wakefield, GRP President + CEO. “This organization-wide adoption supports GRP’s 2025-2030 strategic priorities to advance business recruitment, amplify regional awareness as well as deliver world-class research and market intelligence.”
By modernizing how GRP identifies and engages potential clients, AI helps the organization identify high-growth companies earlier, target site selectors more effectively, and ensure the region’s competitive advantages remain visible in an increasingly digital and AI-driven site selection environment.
In 2025, all GRP staff members completed Google’s AI Essentials certification as part of Google’s recent $9 billion investment in Virginia. The staff’s adoption has yielded strong results, assisting the small team with increasing site location consultant’s consideration score, adding 13 percentage points in a Best-in-Class EDO survey as well as increasing productivity. These results demonstrate how GRP’s AI-powered business attraction strategy is accelerating opportunity identification, improving staff productivity, and strengthening the Richmond Region’s competitive position for future investment.
###
About GRP
The Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. (GRP) is the lead regional economic development organization for the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico in Virginia. GRP attracts new companies to the region by providing in-depth market data, marketing the region globally and generating quality economic opportunities. For more information, visit www.grpva.com.
About The Author
Michael Ivey is Vice President of Marketing + Communications at the Greater Richmond Partnership, where he oversees marketing strategy, media relations and creative projects. An award-winning filmmaker and VCU alumnus, he previously served as News Editor at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. He resides in Chesterfield County with his wife and sons.
