RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced that 14 companies from across the Commonwealth have graduated from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, and that 13 additional companies have joined the most recent cohort of the two-year program.
The VALET program — which 453 companies have completed since its inception in 2002 — assists Virginia companies that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to exporting internationally as a growth strategy.
Virginia-Based Firm to Create 80 New Jobs in the Commonwealth
Today’s tech-driven innovation makes Virginia a particularly appealing locale due to the access it provides to the nation’s highest concentration of technology talent.
These historic companies have innovated, remained nimble, and offered the best of what their customers needed. They have survived periods of turbulence and change and stood the test of time to become critical components of the American economy — just like Virginia itself.
How Virginia contributed to the development of the internet and other essential advancements
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. VEDP Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications & Research Stephen Hartka spoke with Coleman about what citizens and companies can take away from Virginia’s history as the Commonwealth celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.
Drake Extrusion selected Martinsville over other locations in the Southeast because the community offered training and a culture that knew and embraced manufacturing. The turbulence since was tough, but Southern Virginia survived the storm and built a wider base of manufacturing. Danville and Martinsville are reversing their economic fortunes with key investments to support a resilient workforce that was primed for reinvention.
As it was in 1776, Virginia remains central to the American story in 2026. To understand America’s economic, political, and historical developments on its 250th anniversary, one must begin in Virginia.
VEDP is now helping Riggs Ward take that expertise overseas by providing them with market research and helping the company make connections abroad. This spring, the firm will use a grant to attend a trade show in London through VEDP’s Trade Show Program, which provides eligible companies with up to $10,000 in reimbursements to exhibit at product-, service-, or industry-related events that occur outside of the United States or have a demonstrated international aspect.
It’s not just history, but history-making innovation that’s the new draw for the Northern Virginia city established in 1749. From welcoming startups to students, Alexandria has been transforming into an ideation destination, complete with recognition by Business Facilities as one of the country’s top innovation hubs to watch.