Appomattox River Canoeing, Petersburg

Virginia's Gateway Region

Just south of the state capital, Virginia’s Gateway Region is a portal to commerce well-positioned for logistics/distribution and advanced manufacturing companies seeking a location easily accessible to major U.S. markets.

Key Companies in Virginia's Gateway Region

Major distributors in the region include Amazon, Walmart, Aldi, and the Defense Supply Center Richmond. Fort Gregg-Adams, a major logistics presence, churns out approximately 900 experienced exiting military each year, supporting a growing MSA population of over one million.

Downtown Petersburg

Regional Highlights

Virginia’s Gateway Region (VGR) is located at the I-95/I-85 intersection in the southern portion of the Richmond MSA and adjacent to the Virginia Beach-Norfolk MSA. It consists of four counties (Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex) and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg. This East Coast midpoint is well-connected to a national rail and highway network, The Port of Virginia, capital cities, and is within a day’s drive of half of the U.S. population.

Location

Easy access to major Interstates 64, 85, and 95, a national rail network, and the inland Port of Richmond make the Gateway Region an attractive location for companies requiring simple accessibility to major metropolitan areas and U.S. markets.

Washington Dulles International Airport

I-85, I-95, and I-295 run through the region, and six other interstates are within close proximity: I-195, I-64, I-664, I-564, I-264, and I-464.
Freight rail service is provided by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.
The Richmond Marine Terminal, a multimodal freight and distribution center, and The Port of Virginia, offering the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast, are within a two-hour drive of the region.
Three regional airports offer general aviation services, and commercial air service with nonstop flights to domestic destinations is available from Richmond International Airport (RIC – 21 miles), Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport (PHF – 45 miles), and Norfolk International Airport (ORF – 57 miles).
Washington-Dulles International (IAD) and Reagan National (DCA) Airports, located two hours from the region, offer direct national and international flights to all destinations worldwide. Air taxi service to these major airports is available from Chesterfield County and Dinwiddie County Airports.

Virginia’s excellent business climate, including its business-friendly regulatory environment, and access to a world-class workforce, was significant in our site selection process.

Scott Kelley President and Chief Executive Officer, Service Center Metals

Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education at Richard Bland College

Virginia's Gateway to the World's Largest Markets

Anchored by the Tri-Cities of Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights, Virginia’s Gateway Region is notable for its historic sites and its connectivity — Interstates 85, 95, and 295 run through the region, along with the four-lane U.S. 460, connecting it with The Port of Virginia and major population centers in Richmond, Hampton Roads, and along the entire East Coast. This infrastructure makes Virginia’s Gateway Region a natural fit for distributors, with Aldi, Amazon, Food Lion, Goya Foods, and Walmart establishing logistics facilities in the region. Other key industries in the region include advanced manufacturing (AdvanSix, Amsted Rail, Ashland, Evonik, Gerdau, Service Center Metals), food and beverage processing (Boar’s Head, Perdue Farms, Virginia Diner), and an emerging pharmaceutical sector.

Read about Virginia's Gateway Region in Virginia Economic Review

Civica Investment Strengthens Essential Medicines Partnership in Petersburg

To address the major flaws in the essential medicines supply chain, a new partnership in Virginia began to take shape, combining innovative manufacturing techniques with a commitment to strengthening the supply chain for quality, American-made essential medicines — and Civica would be a key partner.

Read the Full Case Study

Civica Rendering, Petersburg

Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing CCAM, Prince George County

Talent Development in Virginia's Gateway Region

Virginia’s Gateway Region is known for its game-changing research and innovation centers specializing in advanced manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture and food product innovation, each with significant institutional and corporate involvement. These assets contribute to the qualified local workforce and enhance expertise.

Virginia State University

An HBCU founded in 1882, is one of Virginia's two land-grant institutions and is located in the village of Ettrick. With a current student population of approximately 4,000, the university offers 36 undergraduate degree programs, 16 graduate degree programs, two doctoral degree programs, and eight certificate programs.

Richard Bland College

Richard Bland College, a two-year institution, provides programs designed to prepare students to transfer to a four-year college, and residents also have dozens of higher education options at surrounding colleges and universities in nearby regions.

In 2022, DroneUp, LLC, a leading drone flight services innovator and aviation technology provider, announced a new testing, training, and R&D center for drone operators at Richard Bland College, expanding the unmanned aircraft systems workforce in Virginia.

Brightpoint Community College

With a nearby campus in Chester as well as degrees taught fully online, Brightpoint’s majors, services and community partnerships are as diverse as the urban, suburban and rural areas that make up the service region. Students can take one class, transfer to a four-year college or university, or train for the workforce.

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM):

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) is an applied research center that provides production-ready advanced manufacturing solutions to member companies across the globe. Members guide the research, leveraging talent and resources within CCAM and at Virginia universities through a collaborative model that enables them to pool R&D efforts to increase efficiencies. Strategic research areas include adaptive automation systems, surface engineering, additive manufacturing, and machining science and technology. A new work-study program through the Central VA FAME chapter is based on a classic apprenticeship model, and its industry-led curriculum is the first of its kind in Virginia. This unique blend of on-the-job training and one-on-one mentorship, while earning a comprehensive associate degree combining technical skills with soft skills, is a winning combination for manufacturers throughout this region.

CCAM is also the GO TEC training center for the region. GO TEC delivers workforce training and talent development through a collaborative, hub-and-spoke model that involves K-12 school systems, higher education and industry. Starting in middle school Career Connections Labs and continuing through high school, dual enrollment, and post-secondary programs, GO TEC engages students in hands-on learning in high-demand career pathways such as precision machining, welding, IT and cybersecurity, robotics and automation, mechatronics, and advanced materials.

Living in Virginia's Gateway Region

The Gateway Region offers numerous outdoor activities with Virginia’s mild climate and beautiful scenery. The mountains and Atlantic Ocean are both within 90 miles.

State, regional, and local parks offer fishing, hunting, hiking, picnicking, boating, ball fields, playgrounds, and water sports. Yacht clubs, marinas, and a variety of water-related activities are promoted on the James and Appomattox Rivers throughout the year.

The region also has a variety of historical, cultural, and recreational activities to offer. The Richmond-Petersburg MSA has numerous buildings, sites, and museums that attract history enthusiasts. Cultural activities include performances by local theater groups, a symphony orchestra, and a ballet company. With close proximity to Richmond and Hampton Roads, residents are a short drive from many entertainment options.

Beacon Theatre, Hopewell

Jordan Point Marina, Prince George County

Hopewell Riverwalk