Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford County

Lynchburg Region

Located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Lynchburg Region boasts a notable history, a dynamic labor force, and a wealth of continuing education opportunities that provide an exceptional talent pipeline for its diverse industry base.

Key Companies in Lynchburg

Abbott Laboratories, Lynchburg

Regional Highlights

The Lynchburg Region, comprising four counties (Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell) and the City of Lynchburg, offers a thriving pro-business environment and workforce, renowned higher education institutions, solid infrastructure, and rich quality of life. The manufacturing sector is a vital part of the local economy, and the region touts advantages in steel and metals, nuclear technology, wireless infrastructure and communication, and financial and business support services. Excellent water capacity and quality positions the region to be a leader in food and beverage processing, as well.

A Region of Opportunity

Known as the “Hill City” for the seven hills that dot the cityscape, Lynchburg is the hub of a region that includes Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties. In 2019, Reviews.org named Lynchburg the No. 1 place in America for millennials to move to, in large part because of the low cost of living and outdoor recreation opportunities. The region offers easy access to the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the James River, and Smith Mountain Lake.

Read About the Lynchburg Region in Virginia Economic Review

Randolph College

Location

Positioned in the heart of the Eastern Seaboard in south central Virginia, the Lynchburg Region provides excellent access to the nation’s strategic markets.

CloudFit Software, Lynchburg

The region’s two major U.S. highways, Routes 29 and 460, connect businesses with other regional assets and nearby metropolitan areas and transit hubs, including Roanoke, Richmond, and The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads.
Lynchburg is 55 miles from Interstate 81, the longest interstate in Virginia that provides access to north/south destinations, and 65 miles from Interstate 64, connecting the region to destinations to the east and west.
CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway Company provide freight rail service to area businesses.
Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak, with daily round-trip commuter service to Washington, D.C., and servicing cities northbound to New York and southbound to New Orleans.
Two regional airports provide general aviation services, and the Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) offers direct commercial air service to the international air hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport through American Airlines’ American Eagle regional affiliate.

BWX Technologies, Lynchburg

Talent

Recognized for its broad base of employers, higher education opportunities, and robust workforce, the Lynchburg Region draws upon a talent pool of over 126,000 skilled and highly motivated employees with more than 580,000 in the extended labor market.

Liberty University

Highly-Ranked Higher Education & Talent Development Programs in the Region

The Lynchburg region is home to a number of training and workforce development programs and highly ranked two and four-year colleges and universities that ensure ample talent, including Liberty University (which offers a bachelor’s degree in aviation), the University of Lynchburg, Sweet Briar College, Randolph College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College, and Virginia Technical Institute.

Liberty University

Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), Lynchburg

Highly-Ranked Higher Education & Talent Development Programs in the Region

Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), Lynchburg

Sweet Briar College

Highly-Ranked Higher Education & Talent Development Programs in the Region

Sweet Briar College

University of Lynchburg

Highly-Ranked Higher Education & Talent Development Programs in the Region

University of Lynchburg

Highly-Ranked Higher Education & Talent Development Programs in the Region

University of Lynchburg

We have been in the Lynchburg area of Virginia for more than 50 years and as we look to the future as Framatome, we are proud to once again make this the headquarters for our North American operations. When it comes to recruiting, we have access to some of the best university programs in the country and the region offers a growing diversity of activities and opportunities that make this a great place to live and work.

Gary Mignogna President and CEO, Framatome, Inc. (2018-2023)

Living in Lynchburg

The Lynchburg Region is home to outstanding schools, nationally renowned health care services, a mild climate, and a host of recreational and cultural opportunities. All of these advantages come at an affordable cost – food, housing, and health care costs in the region are below the national average and among the lowest in Virginia.

As a cultural center, the Lynchburg Region offers art galleries, theater, dance, concerts, symphony, lectures, and museums. History buffs can enjoy visiting the National D-Day Memorial, numerous Civil War attractions at the Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s 18th-century summer retreat in Bedford County.

The region’s location on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains with close proximity to the Peaks of Otter, historic James River, and the expansive, 23,400-acre Smith Mountain Lake allows residents to take advantage of numerous outdoor recreational pursuits. With a beautiful setting, close proximity to major cities, diverse housing options, safe communities, a low cost of living, and abundant quality of life, the Lynchburg Region is an ideal place to live and work.

State Games, Lynchburg

Terrapin Mountain Overlook, Bedford County

Garland Hill, Lynchburg