The Hampton Roads region of southeast Virginia along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean is booming because of its diverse economy, integrated transportation network, its technical innovation, and skilled workforce. Discover the three reasons why Hampton Roads is a great place to grow your business: commercial property choices, great business networking community, and recession resilience.
What is Hampton Roads?
The Hampton Roads region is also known as Tidewater because it is home to the Hampton Roads estuary. An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean. The Hampton Roads estuary is located along the southeastern coast of Virginia, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Hampton Roads is bordered by the James River to the north, the Elizabeth River to the south, and the Chesapeake Bay to the east.
The Hampton Roads region is named for the many harbors and anchorages that have served as safe havens for ships since the early days of American history. The Hampton Roads harbor is the world’s largest natural harbor, and it has been home to the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet since 1907.
The Hampton Roads region is home to more than 3 million people, making it the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. The Hampton Roads metropolitan area includes the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, as well as the independent cities of Suffolk and the Virginia Peninsula.
The Hampton Roads cities work together as a region in order to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Partnership is a public-private partnership that works to promote regional cooperation.
What is Hampton Roads known for?
Hampton Roads is known for its diverse economy, which includes shipbuilding, defense contracting, tourism, agriculture, fishing, and international trade. Hampton Roads is also known for its integrated transportation system, which includes the Port of Virginia, Hampton Roads International Airport, Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
Hampton Roads is also known for its technical innovation. The Hampton Roads region is home to more than 300 technology companies, including Hampton Roads-based companies like Verizon, Northrop Grumman, and Newport News Shipbuilding.
Hampton Roads is home to a variety of attractions, including the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, the Hampton Roads Zoo, and the Nauticus National Maritime Center. Hampton Roads also offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as fishing, kayaking, and sailing.
Hampton Roads is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including the Hampton Roads Piranhas minor league baseball team, the Norfolk Tides Triple-A baseball team, the Hampton Roads Admirals minor league hockey team, and the Norfolk Nighthawks indoor football team.
Why is Hampton Roads a great place to grow your business?
The Hampton Roads region is a great place to grow your business for three primary reasons: commercial property choices, a great business networking community, and recession resilience.
Commercial Property Choices:
Hampton Roads offers a wide variety of commercial properties to choose from, including office space, retail space, industrial space, and more. Hampton Roads is also home to a number of business parks and industrial parks that offer businesses the opportunity to lease or purchase land for their operations.
Great Business Networking Community:
Hampton Roads is home to a number of chambers of commerce, business organizations, and professional associations. These organizations provide networking opportunities and resources for businesses of all sizes.
Business organizations and professional associations in Hampton Roads include:
- The Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance is a public-private partnership that works to promote regional cooperation and economic development in Hampton Roads.
- The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber of commerce in Hampton Roads, with more than 2,000 member businesses.
- The Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News Chamber of Commerce is the second largest chamber of commerce in Hampton Roads, with more than 1,600 member businesses.
- The Hampton Roads Technology Council is a non-profit organization that promotes the growth of the Hampton Roads technology sector.
- The American Marketing Association-Hampton Roads is a professional organization for marketing professionals.
Hampton Roads region is home to a number of colleges and universities, which provide a talent pool for businesses to draw from. These include:
- Old Dominion University
- Hampton University
- Norfolk State University
- William & Mary
- Christopher Newport University
- Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance
Hampton Roads is home to a number of military bases, which provide a talent pool for businesses to draw from. The Hampton Roads military bases include:
- Fort Eustis
- Fort Story
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis
- Norfolk Naval Station
Hampton Roads is home to a number of major corporations, which provide a talent pool for businesses to draw from. The Hampton Roads major corporations include:
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Verizon
- Dominion Resources
- Smithfield Foods
Recession Resilience:
The Hampton Roads region has proven to be resilient in the face of economic recession. Hampton Roads was less impacted by the recent economic recession than other regions of the country, and Hampton Roads’ unemployment rate has remained below the national average. Hampton Roads also experienced positive job growth during the recession. The Hampton Roads region is home to a number of industries that have been relatively resilient to economic downturns, including agriculture, defense contracting, healthcare, and tourism. These industries have helped Hampton Roads weather the recent economic storm and are stronger than before(1).
Check out the Hampton Roads region
If you’re looking for a great place to launch or grow your business, check out the Hampton Roads region – you won’t be disappointed! Hampton Roads offers a variety of commercial property choices, great business networking opportunities, and is relatively resilient to economic downturns.
It has a long and prosperous history, and its economy has been diversified and growing steadily for many years. The region’s convenient location, superb infrastructure, and highly skilled workforce make Hampton Roads an ideal place to grow your business. If you’re looking for a dynamic and vibrant region to do business in, Hampton Roads is the place for you!
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References:
- The Great Recession: 10 Years Later – Janet Roach – https://www.13newsnow.com/article/money/the-great-recession-10-years-later/291-572828113