Richmond’s economically progressive metropolitan area was named one of Forbes’ “Best Places for Business and Careers” in April 2008. New and innovative technology companies are joining the strong financial, government and tobacco industries already in the area. Fortune 500 companies continue to move their headquarters to Richmond for its proximity to the nation’s capital and the entire East Coast.
• As a financial center it is home to one of 12 U.S. Federal Reserve Banks.
• The Richmond-Metro area is located in the heart of the East Coast, a two-day delivery by truck to 60 percent of the nation's consumers and manufacturers.
• Richmond’s Virginia BioTechnology Research Park fosters collaboration between researchers, scientists and students.
• The Richmond-Metro area offers an educated employment base in chemical, biotechnology, semiconductors and high-tech fibers.
• Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the Richmond-Metro area include Altria Group, CarMax, Circuit City Stores, Dominion Resources, Genworth Financial, MeadWestvaco, Owens & Minor, Performance Food Group, Albemarle, Brink’s, LandAmerica Financial Group, Markel, Massey Energy and Universal.
Major Foreign Firms in Richmond-Metro area: American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Japan; Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany; DHL, Germany; Food Lion, Inc., Belgium; Hohner, Inc., Germany; Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc., Japan; Qimonda Richmond, Germany; Simems Building Technologies, Inc., Germany, UBS Financial Services, Switzerland; Wako Chemicals USA, Inc., Japan.
Major Colleges and Universities in the Richmond-Metro area:
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Randolph-Macon College, University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University.
Virginia Commonwealth University Affiliated Research Institutions: Brandcenter, Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis, Center for Corporate Education, Center for Environmental Studies, Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety, Center for Public Policy, Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute, Nonprofit Enterprise Institute, Office of Industry Partnership, Pauley Heart Center, Risk and Insurance Studies Center, Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Center for Urban Development, Virginia Council for Economic Education, Virginia Youth Tobacco Project, Williamson Institute for Health Studies.
Major Employers: Bank of America Corp., BB&T Corp., Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Capital One Financial Corp., CarMax Inc., Chesterfield County, Circuit City Stores Inc., ColonialWebb Contractors, Dinwiddie County, Dominion Resources Inc., DuPont, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Inc., Food Lion LLC, Genworth Financial Inc., Hanover County, HCA Inc., Henrico County, Honeywell International Inc., Hopewell City, LandAmerica Financial, Louisa County, Lowe's Cos. Inc., Media General Inc., MeadWestvaco Corp., Northop Grumman, Petersburg City, Philip Morris USA, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Qimonda Richmond, Reynolds Packaging Group, Richmond City, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Southside Regional Medical Center, Supervalu Inc. Eastern Region, SunTrust Banks Inc., Target Corp., The Home Depot Inc., The Kroger Co., Ukrop's Super Markets Inc., United Parcel Service Inc., University of Richmond, U.S. Government, Va. Government, Verizon Virginia Inc., Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Wachovia Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., WellPoint Inc., Wyeth.
Major Nonprofits: Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Western Virginia, Medical Society of Virginia, United Network of Organ Sharing, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Virginia Network of Nonprofit Organizations.
Professional and Trade Associations: BizWorks Enterprise Center, Commercial Real Estate Richmond, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Greater Richmond Technology Council, Home Building Association of Richmond, Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association, Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond, Richmond Human Resource Management Association, Richmond Women’s Network, Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Virginia Manufacturer’s Association, Virginia Municipal League.
