The Future of Innovation is in Virginia

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Merck & Co. is investing $3 billion in a 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility that will serve as their Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Small Molecule Manufacturing, and generate 500 jobs. Merck’s announcement reflects a significant increase beyond the original scope of a $2 billion investment and 300 jobs. 

Julia Boas and Michelle Williams of the Roanoke Regional Partnership (RRP) talked about what the Roanoke Region is doing to attract and retain top talent. 

The sterile injectible drugs manufacturer is investing $200 million to expand its current facility, creating at least 200 jobs and increasing its square footage by about eight times its current size.

The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program provides world-class training and recruitment solutions that are fully customized to a company’s unique operations, equipment, standards, and culture. This accolade comes on the heels of the program also being ranked No. 1 in Business Facilities' annual Rankings Report for the third consecutive year. These rankings solidify the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program’s place as the top workforce training program in the country. 

Virginia's abundant recreation scene means that there's something to do for just about everyone, whether you're an experienced hiker or kayaker looking for a challenge or a parent looking to pass along a love of outdoors to your family. 

Booming Virginia clusters where innovative companies work alongside R&D facilities at higher education institutions provide a supply chain blueprint for increasing drug accessibility and affordability. 

This issue of the Virginia Economic Review celebrates all of the unique factors that contribute to Virginia's unbeatable quality of life.