News & Features
Virginia Economic Review
Our quarterly publication, Virginia Economic Review, provides an insider look at Virginia’s economy, its diverse array of world-class companies, its amazing talent, and its stunning natural beauty, as well as insights from national thought leaders.
Filter by:
07.13.2026
Disrupting Conventional Historical Wisdom
Christy Coleman is the executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational Virginia state agency that offers programs and resources about early American history through its living history museums, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Caption
Inside Virginia’s Rise to Biopharma Prominence
As the world continues to struggle with drug supply chains and critical shortages, clusters of activity have emerged to move the needle of medication affordability and accessibility.
04.01.2026
A Biopharma Moment Decades in the Making
John Newby is the CEO of Virginia Bio, the nonprofit statewide trade association that serves and promotes the life sciences industry in Virginia.
Building a Sustainable Pharma Manufacturing Workforce
Recent major biopharmaceutical manufacturing announcements are positioning Virginia for a broader reshoring effort in the pharma industry. COVID-era supply chain disruptions and resulting shortages exposed the risks of over-reliance on overseas production for essential medicines.
04.01.2026
Enabling Innovation
Would more men try to prevent unintended pregnancies if their choices for contraception went beyond a condom or vasectomy?
04.01.2026
Continuous Improvement
A pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation that came out of a Virginia university is changing the way medicines are made. The Commonwealth’s universities and the rest of its biopharma research community are making sure Virginia is ready to make the medicines of the future.
04.01.2026
Enabling Innovation
Would more men try to prevent unintended pregnancies if their choices for contraception went beyond a condom or vasectomy?
Hopewell Riverwalk
The Communities at the Forefront of Virginia’s Biopharma Push: The I95-I85 Intersection
The I95-I85 Intersection is anchored by the Tri-Cities of Petersburg (home to Civica Rx’s facility that produces a wide variety of affordable essential medicines), Hopewell, and Colonial Heights.
04.01.2026
The Investments Behind a Biopharma Hotspot
A lot changed in Virginia’s life sciences industry in the space of about a month last fall. Between Sept. 16 and Oct. 20, biopharmaceutical manufacturing giants Eli Lilly and Company, AstraZeneca, and Merck & Co.
WCS Logistics, Frederick County
In Complete (Climate) Control
Food and beverage and pharmaceutical companies rely on Virginia’s cold chain infrastructure to succeed.
A Conversation with Careyann Weinberg
Careyann Weinberg, Director of Economic Vitality for the Downtown Norfolk Council in Hampton Roads, Virginia, discusses quality of life and talent opportunities in Hampton Roads and Virginia as a whole, including the strong professional network in the area, the opportunities for talent, and her own "Why Virginia" story.
ivWatch, Newport News
Thinking Globally, Recruiting Locally
When Lydia Ruffin began work as a restaurant server, her goal was to support herself through school. She could not have anticipated how profoundly that entry-level job would shape her career.
01.05.2026
From Uniform to Opportunity
Home to one of the largest concentrations of active duty and veteran talent in the country, Virginia has engineered an ecosystem that helps those who served translate military experience into high-value private sector careers.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Civica Rx expanded into Virginia in 2021, building a sterile injectable drug manufacturing facility in Petersburg. The company turned to the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program to fill approximately 300 positions.
01.05.2026
Bespoke Training for Emerging Workforce Needs
New or expanding companies want to know that they will be able to hire workers with the skills they need. While outside training providers offer established but generic faculty, facilities, and programs, in-house solutions allow for customization but require significant investment.
Big Lick Brewery in downtown Roanoke is part of a food and beverage scene that complements the region’s abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.
Maintaining the Talent Pool
When Julia Boas and her husband, Patrick, have an errand to run or a friend to visit in their hometown of Roanoke, they rarely go by car. Instead, they hop on their e-bikes.
Cape Henry Associates, Hampton Roads
11.11.2025
Empowering Virginia's Heroes: A Comprehensive Guide to Workforce Development & Career Opportunities for Veterans
As Virginia celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, there's no better time to highlight the Commonwealth's unwavering commitment to those who have served our nation.
10.15.2025
The Virginia Model
Stephen Edwards has served as the CEO and executive director of The Port of Virginia since 2021.
A Soft Landing for Military Veterans
Sam Northington doesn’t want any military veteran to struggle like his dad did. After 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, his father retired as a master sergeant and went back to college to get his teaching credentials. “That didn’t really fit him. He never really taught,” Northington recalled.



