Key Companies in the Northern Shenandoah Valley

osullivan-films-worker

O'Sullivan Films, Inc., Winchester

Regional Highlights

The Northern Shenandoah Valley includes Clarke, Frederick, and Warren counties, and the City of Winchester. The region borders the Washington, D.C., MSA, offering quick access to the nation’s capital and other major metro areas. Recognized as a popular tourist destination for its outdoor amenities, the region’s location in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley provides numerous recreational activities. 

Location

The Northern Shenandoah Valley is located in northwestern Virginia, bordering Maryland to the north and West Virginia to the west. The region’s efficient transportation network– with easy access to major highways, including Interstates 81 and 66, railways, including CSX and Winchester & Western, three international airports, Winchester Regional Airport, and the Virginia Inland Port – allows companies to reach customers anywhere in the world. 

Northern Shenandoah Valley
  • Interstates 66 and 81 run through the region and provide easy access to markets along the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest. Eight additional interstates are 42 miles or less from the region: I-68 (14 miles), I-70 (18 miles), I-270 (27 miles), I-370 (33 miles), I-495 (36 miles), I-76 (36 miles), I-99 (41 miles), and I-95 (42 miles).
  • Freight rail service is provided by CSX Transportation, linking to Norfolk Southern.
  • The Virginia Inland Port (VIP), an intermodal container transfer facility, is located in the region, and The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads is only 204 miles southeast.
  • Two regional airports, Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR) and Winchester Regional Airport (OKV), provide general aviation services, and Washington-Dulles International (IAD) offers commercial flights and cargo transportation less than 40 minutes from Frederick County. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) offer additional options in less than two hours.

Talent For A Diverse Industry Base

The area draws from an extended labor force of over 500,000 that supplies a pipeline of talent for the region’s diverse industry base, including manufacturing, food processing and agribusiness, professional services, logistics and distribution, and technology. The Northern Shenandoah Valley is home to companies of all sizes from local to global, such as Navy Federal Credit Union, Berryville Graphics, Continental, Kraft Heinz, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Winchester Metals. With an extensive and diverse business portfolio, a significant investments in capital expenditures and ongoing partnerships between the business community and educational institutions, the region has consistently retained and attracted leading companies and is consistently rated a great place to operate a business.

Trex, Frederick County

Talent For A Diverse Industry Base

The area draws from an extended labor force of over 500,000 that supplies a pipeline of talent for the region’s diverse industry base, including manufacturing, food processing and agribusiness, professional services, logistics and distribution, and technology. The Northern Shenandoah Valley is home to companies of all sizes from local to global, such as Navy Federal Credit Union, Berryville Graphics, Continental, Kraft Heinz, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Winchester Metals. With an extensive and diverse business portfolio, a significant investments in capital expenditures and ongoing partnerships between the business community and educational institutions, the region has consistently retained and attracted leading companies and is consistently rated a great place to operate a business.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Frederick County

For over 40 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific has benefited from Virginia’s skilled workforce who is dedicated to enabling our mission and helping our customers make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.

Tina Liedtky President, Clinical Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific
American Woodmark, Frederick County_Dark Source Font

American Woodmark, Frederick County

Talent Development

Laurel Ridge Community College and Shenandoah University are located in Winchester-Frederick County, Old Dominion University is accessible via TeleTech Net at Laurel Ridge Community College and satellite campuses of Virginia Tech and UVA are located within an hour’s drive. George Mason, George Washington, and James Madison Universities are other popular higher education options near the region. Laurel Ridge has a robust Workforce Solutions department offering credentialing and certification programs as well as custom training to support local industries. Laurel Ridge Community College recently expanded its mechatronics facility footprint through the construction of a 3,500-square-foot addition. 

Signature programs like the Widget Cup high school design/build STEM competition, and regional partnership initiatives like Worlds of Work middle school career exploration and Employer Expo hiring fair are connecting future and current job seekers with local companies, while Live Love Shenandoah is attracting new employees to the region. Clarke County High School also partners with Blue Ridge Community College to provide credentialing and certification programs while working directly with Human Resources Managers to secure jobs upon completion.

Navy Federal Credit Union, Winchester

Navy Federal Credit Union, Winchester

Navy Federal Credit Union Seeks Location to Grow

Due to its growing customer base and a mission to provide exceptional customer service, Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), the world’s largest credit union, needed to increase its workforce to meet current and future demand in a location that could accommodate major growth. When it set out to significantly grow its support services operations, the Virginia-headquartered company hoped to select an existing NFCU campus because NFCU also saw this expansion as an opportunity to provide career advancement pathways for current employees.

Read the Full Case Study

Living in the Northern Shenandoah Valley

The region's location offers access to the amenities of big city living without the time-draining challenges. The Northern Shenandoah Valley is home to hundreds of miles of trails throughout the George Washington National Forest as well as home to the famed Shenandoah National Park and two state parks with river access, trails, camping and other amenities. Trade the long commute and traffic for the ability to decompress by hitting the trails or grabbing a pint within minutes of stepping outside of work.

The region is also home to a variety of performing arts venues, galleries and museums providing locals with world-class cultural opportunities right at their fingertips. The Shenandoah Spirits Trail includes roughly 30 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries perfect for tastings, flights, glasses and pints to kick back after work or on the weekend with friends and family. Live music can be enjoyed outdoors throughout the summer months while the holiday season offers small town community gatherings like parades and craft markets.

Whether you prefer a downtown apartment within walking distance to restaurants, shops and breweries, a residential neighborhood in the suburbs, or your own private retreat situated on several acres in the country, the comparatively low cost of living in the Northern Shenandoah Valley makes owning a piece of the American dream a reality for many who choose to locate and work there.

Apple Picking, Winchester

Apple Picking, Winchester

winchester-ciderworks-brewery

Winchester Ciderworks Brewery, Winchester

The Cove, Frederick County

The Cove, Frederick County