Virginia Beach, Virginia is a favourite destination for thousands of international visitors every year. However, more and more of those travellers are wearing business suits, not swimsuits. They’re discovering that our business environment is every bit as desirable as our beaches and weather.
Yes, our ocean setting, climate and lifestyle will always be a major draw. But now our low cost of doing business, skilled workforce, pro-business city government and growing high-tech infrastructure are leading to new growth and international interest.
Virginia Beach has always been a popular vacation destination, but now the Millennial group is discovering the benefits of living and working here too
Powerful forces
Global trade is big business in Virginia Beach. More than 20 international firms have their US or North American headquarters here, including STIHL, Kettler, Busch, Hermes, IMS:Gear and others. Over 200 other foreign businesses have locations here too, and the trend isn’t slowing down, as our 16 international marketing missions in the past year suggest.
This success is all by design. Local government and business leaders have worked diligently to make sure Virginia Beach stays high on the list of destinations for foreign companies looking to expand in the US. That’s why we keep taxes and regulations low, offer targeted incentives, and continue to promote Virginia Beach as a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Virginia Beach has always been a popular vacation destination for young people, but now the Millennial group is discovering the benefits of living and working here too. They’re finding high-paying jobs in exciting growth industries such as technology, research, and new-initiative segments like biotech and life sciences.
These same attributes make Virginia Beach a hotbed of young companies and entrepreneurs. In fact, there is a track record of success here: Amerigroup and Liberty Tax are just two examples of Virginia Beach startups that have become billion-dollar companies. And, because success breeds success, companies find themselves surrounded by winners, which means access to more talented people and bright minds.
Why it works
Virginia Beach has so much to offer international businesses. The Port of Virginia is one of America’s most advanced deep-water ports, and is just one part of our efficient, multimodal transportation system. The city also boasts a world-class telecommunications system that makes global communications easy and reliable.
In training terms, we have an innovative ‘mechatronics’ workforce programme that supports skills development for the manufacturing sector. And, of course, there’s our reasonable cost of doing business, highly skilled and productive workforce, and highly competitive business environment. The latter encompasses a huge consumer base.
The living is easy in Virginia Beach, and the city works hard to make life, and business, easy for our international business arrivals. Thanks to the heavy volume of global trade that takes place here, businesses have access to some of the best international business law and immigration attorneys in the US. Also, most banks are experienced in conducting international financial transactions.
So, when you combine this dynamic business story with such an exciting place to live, Virginia Beach is pretty spectacular.