1. VIRGINIA BEACH
COMMUNITY PROFILE the place • the people • the economy
the place
THE rEGION • One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, America’s
Promise National Forum
Located in the southeastern corner of Virginia, where the state meets the sea, • One of the Ten Best Cities in America, Money magazine
the Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the 34th largest in the
United States, with a population of more than 1.65 million. The market encom- For more city distinctions, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com
passes 16 cities and counties including the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton,
Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and
Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, James City, Mathews, Isle of
PrOUD HISTOry
The rich history of the city dates back 400 years, when the first English colo-
Wight, Surry, and York and the North Carolina county of Currituck.
nists ventured to the New World. On April 26, 1607, vessels Susan Constant,
Godspeed and Discovery stopped at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The
colonists made their historic First Landing on the shore, erected a cross and
THE CITy named the spot Cape Henry, a popular Virginia Beach attraction today.
Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia and the 42nd largest city
in the United States, with approximately 440,000 residents. The city encom-
passes 307 square miles:
TEMPErATE CLIMATE
LAND WATER BEACHES* Based on data from the Virginia Beach/Norfolk International Airport, the National
248 59 38
Climatic Data Center reports, “The winters are usually mild, while the autumn
and spring season usually are delightful. Summers, though warm and long,
frequently are tempered by cool periods, often associated with northeasterly
winds off the Atlantic. Winters pass on occasion without a measurable amount
SQUARE MILES (642 KM) SQUARE MILES (153 KM) MILES
*
Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay of snowfall. The geographic location…with respect to the principal storm tracks
is especially favorable, being south of the average path of storms…and north of
Virginia Beach has a unique environment. Within minutes, residents and visitors the usual tracks of hurricane and other tropical storms.”
have access to the popular oceanfront resort area, bountiful wildlife preserves
and parks, vibrant financial districts, urban amenities, pastoral rural areas, Annual Averages
distinctive cultural centers and museums, a variety of military facilities, and
TEMPERATURE RAINFALL SNOWFALL
60° 45 7.3
neighborhoods as diverse as the people who call this home.
NATIONAL DISTINCTIONS FAHRENHEIT INCHES INCHES
• Best Place to Live in America, USA Today Weekend magazine
• Least Stressful City in the U.S., MSNBC report, Biz Journal Study
• #2 in Best 100 Places to Raise a Family, Best Life magazine Average 10 AM to 4 PM Air Temperatures:
• Among America’s Most Literate Cities, Central Connecticut State Univ. January 41° F
• One of the Top Ten Communities among the 20 Best Places to Retire, April 58° F
Black Enterprise magazine July 79° F
• One of the Top Ten Most Technically Advanced Cities in the U.S., October 62° F
Center for Digital Government
• One of the Top Ten Best Cities for the Outdoors, Forbes magazine
• One of the Top Ten Fittest Cities in America, Men’s Health magazine

2. QUALITy EDUCATION AND The Town Center of Virginia Beach features an eclectic mix of
shopping, dining, entertainment, and living options covering
WOrKFOrCE DEVELOPMENT 17 city blocks. Enjoy world-renowned performers at the San-
dler Center for the Performing Arts, or free live entertainment
Development of successful students and a quality workforce begins before
kindergarten with an innovative early childhood program called Ready to Learn. and festivals in the plazas. Dine at a local eatery or a national
Studies show the years between birth and five are critical to a child’s intellec- restaurant. Shop at popular brand retailers and upscale bou-
tual, physical, social and emotional development. Ready to Learn partners with tiques or treat yourself to a night at the 4-star Westin Virginia
families, schools, and the community to provide these children with high-quality Beach Town Center Hotel. For more information, visit www.
educational environments and experiences. vabeachtowncenter.com.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools has built a high-quality school division focusing The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, the region’s newest performing arts
on educational rigor and expanded academic choices. The goal is to prepare all facility, hosts scores of world-renowned entertainers while providing a state-of-
students to be successful as workers, citizens, and lifelong learners in this chal- the-art home for the area’s finest performing arts organizations. Seating in the
lenging and rapidly changing global economy. Among the many academic choices
provided to students are school-within-a-school Academy and Advanced Academ-
ic programs. Students who successfully complete courses in Technical and Career
Education are prepared to enter the workforce directly upon graduation. In school
year 2007-08 more than 4,000 students earned industry credentials through their
TCE courses.
Public K-12 1,300-seat performance hall is both generous and intimate, with the furthest seat
only 100 feet from the stage. For more information, visit www.sandlercenter.com.
SCHOOLS/
CENTERS TEACHERS ENROLLMENT
88 5,800 70,708
The Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater seats 20,000 and was recently
nominated as one of the top venues in the United States.
Golf courses are plentiful in Virginia Beach. There are 11 top rated courses
designed by such world famous course architects as Fred Couples, Arnold Palmer,
Post-secondary education options abound in the Virginia Beach MSA, providing and the legendary Pete Dye. These courses are sure to intrigue beginners and
access to more than 93,000 students for part-time and full-time employment and challenge the pros. For more information, visit www.vbfun.com.
more than 11,000 four-year graduates each year.
Virginia Beach is home to 249 city parks and facilities encompassing 4,000 acres.
Colleges and Universities in the Virginia Beach MSA: In addition, First Landing State Park offers boating, swimming, hiking, biking,
picnicking, and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres. The 4,321 acre False Cape State
Schools Enrollment Park has six miles of unspoiled beaches and nine miles of hiking/biking trails. The
Christopher Newport University 4,884 Back Bay Refuge contains 9,000 acres with a wide assortment of wildlife, including
threatened and endangered species such as loggerhead sea turtles, piping
The College of William and Mary 7,795
plovers, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles.
Eastern Virginia Medical School 736
Hampton University 5,156
In addition, residents and visitors can visit a variety of historic attractions, including the
Norfolk State University 6,155 Adam Thoroughgood House, Francis Land House, the Cape Henry Lighthouses
Old Dominion University 22,287 and site of the First Landing.
Paul D. Camp Community College 1,544
Regent University 4,442
Thomas Nelson Community College
Tidewater Community College
9,368
25,857
GrEEN INITIATIVES
Going green is nothing new for Virginia Beach. The City’s Green Ribbon Committee
Virginia Wesleyan College 1,433 has developed long-term, citywide initiatives to promote the importance of
Source: 2008 Hampton Roads Statistical Digest sustainable development and ecologically friendly practices throughout the com-
munity. Green distinctions include:
Virginia Beach is committed to education and lifelong learning. The Virginia Beach • Virginia’s First Green Destination, Commonwealth of Virginia
Public Library has a collection of more than 1,000,000 items. The library system • One of the Ten Greenest Places to Retire, U.S. News
consists of a central library, eight area libraries, a bookmobile, a public law library, • A Tree City USA, Virginia Department of Forestry
a municipal reference library, and special services for the blind and visually handi- • Agricultural Reserve Program has preserved more than 5,000 acres
capped. • Open Space Acquisition program has preserved more than 1,800 acres valued
at more than $40 million.
Each year more than 13,000 personnel exit the military with many preferring to • First Green Certified Convention Center in Virginia, Commonwealth
stay in the area and seek private sector employment. The education and training of Virginia
level of the exiting military personnel bring diverse and disciplined production,
technical, managerial, computer and electronic skills to the labor force.
LOCAL GOVErNMENT
Recognized as one of the best managed and most innovative cities in the nation,
EXCITING ATTrACTIONS Virginia Beach has a council-manager form of government. Seven seats of the
Each year millions of visitors flock to Virginia Beach to enjoy its famous three-mile 11-member council are filled by individuals who reside in the seven respective
boardwalk (named one of the top ten boardwalks by Sherman Travel), 35 miles districts of the City. The four remaining “at large” seats do not carry district
of beaches and many exciting year-round attractions. For more information, visit requirements. The Mayor is elected by popular vote and holds one of the four
www.vbfun.com. “at large” seats. For more information, visit www.vbgov.com.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center features 700,000 gallons of aquar-
iums, live animal habitats, hundreds of hands-on exhibits, outdoor aviary, nature
trail and marshlands, and a 3D IMAX Theater screen six stories tall and eight
SAFETy
Virginia Beach is a safe place to live, work, visit and raise a family. According to
stories wide. Opening in May 2009, Restless Planet, a 12,000-square-foot exhibit
FBI statistics, Virginia Beach has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation for a
gallery, will explore modern habitats that illustrate what Virginia was like in its
city of its size.
geologic past. For more information, visit www.virginiaaquarium.com

3. the people
POPULATION INCOME
Virginia Beach USA
Median Household Income $62,948 $50,170
Virginia Beach’s population was estimated to $100,000+ 22.01% 18.56%
be 436,270 in 2008. The Virginia Beach MSA $75,000 - $99,999 15.48% 12.03%
population is more than 1.65 million. $50,000 - $74,999 24.00% 19.55%
$25,000 - $49,999 26.03% 26.43%
Under $24,999 11.97% 23.43%
Source: Claritas 2008
Virginia Beach USA
Median Age 35.91% 36.67%
Male 48.84% 49.28%
Female 51.16% 50.72%
White 68.86% 72.72%
African-American 19.96% 12.43%
Asian/Pacific Islander 5.56% 4.54%
American Indian or
Alaskan Native .45% .92%
Two or More Races 3.35% 2.82%
Other 1.82% 6.56%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 5.22% 15.24%
Source: Claritas 2008
HOUSEHOLDS
# OF DWELLING UNITS
173,603 681,191
VIRGINIA BEACH MSA
ESTIMATED HOUSEHOLDS
163,403 327,873
VIRGINIA BEACH MSA
EDUCATION LEVELS
2008 Est. Population Age 25+ Education
Virginia Beach USA
Graduate Degree 8.76% 8.85%
AVERAGE PERSONS PER HOUSE Bachelors Degree 19.21% 15.76%
2.67 2.66
Associates Degree 7.61% 6.39%
Some College (13-15) 29.06% 21.25%
High School Grade or GED (12) 25.88% 28.39%
Some high school (9-11) 7.06% 11.88%
VIRGINIA BEACH MSA Less than 9th grade 2.41% 7.47%
Source: Claritas 2008
it’s not who you know. it’s where you live.
“Virginia Beach is one of the top cities to live and launch a business.” Fortune Small Business Magazine

4. the eCONOMY
Virginia Beach is a great city for business. In addition to the incredible lifestyle
as one of America’s favorite vacation destinations, Virginia Beach also boasts a TAX rATES
skilled, educated workforce, strategic location, low tax rates, and a dynamic, Together, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Virginia Beach have one of
diverse economy. the fairest tax structures of the 50 states. Both businesses and individuals carry
their share of the tax load, and the Commonweath has not raised its corporate
Because of its strategic Mid-Atlantic location, both foreign and domestic markets income tax rate of 6% since 1972. In addition, Virginia’s unemployment insurance
can be readily accessed through a superior transportation network, which includes rates and workers’ compensation costs are among the lowest in the nation.
an extensive railway system, an international airport, vast shipping terminals, the
East Coast’s largest ice-free port, and an efficient and well-maintained highway City Of Virginia Beach Tax Rates
system. The Virginia Beach MSA is an ideal location for international companies.
REAL ESTATE MACHINERY & TOOLS
This part of Virginia serves as the world’s gateway into the U.S., and our excellent
$0.89 $1.00
telecommunications infastructure makes every county just a click away. More
than 27 countries are represented in the region’s business community, and 12
have established consular offices here.
Plus, the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development, named one of the PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE* PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE
*Fiscal Year 2008-2009 33% OF ORIGINAL COST (MANUFACTURERS)
ten best Economic Development offices in the nation by Site Selection magazine,
offers support to businesses both large and small. PERSONAL PROPERTY BUSINESS PROPERTY
NATIONAL DISTINCTIONS
• Virginia Beach MSA ranked #1 in the U.S. for high impact firms and for jobs
and growth, The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy
$3.70 $3.70
PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE
• Second Top Major Market in the South, Southern Business & 40% OF ORIGINAL COST (TANGIBLE PROPERTY)
Development magazine
• #3 in the Country for Most Educated Workforce, Business Facilities
• One of the Top Economic Development Hot Spots, Expansion Management
magazine and the National Policy Research Council OCCUPATIONAL MIX
• Among the nation’s Ten Best Cities to Get a Job, Forbes magazine Virginia Beach has a well-balanced and healthy distribution of managerial, profes-
• 14th out of the Top 100 Cities to Live and Launch a Business, Fortune sional, technical, manufacturing and clerical support personnel, working in a wide
Small Business variety of businesses and industries.
• Virginia named America’s most business-friendly state, Polina Corporate
Real Estate, Inc. Right-To-Work
Virginia is the northern-most state and one of the 21 states with a Right-To-Work
law. The law prohibits a closed shop, where employers may hire only members
TArGET INDUSTrIES of the contracting union, and also prohibits a union shop, where the employees
who are not a member of a union must join after a certain period of employment
The Virginia Beach Economic Development Department targets the and must remain a member as a condition of employment.
following business sectors:
Occupations: Employed Virginia Beach USA
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS Civilians (Age 16 and up)
MANAGEMENT OF COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS
Management, Business & Financial 14.06% 13.74%
HEALTHCARE AND BIOMEDICAL
HIGH-PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURING Professional & Related Occupations 22.06% 20.27%
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Sales and Office 30.01% 26.74%
CONSTRUCTION Production & Transportation 8.95% 14.40%
INFORMATION SERVICES
Service 14.83% 14.63%
Construction & Maintenance 9.97% 9.49%
Farming, Forestry & Fishing .13% .74%
we have the most military decision
makers outside of the pentagon.
(But that’s all we can tell you.)
“Over 16,000 highly skilled people exit the Navy and join our workforce each year.”
Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy

5. MINOrITy bUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Retail and Wholesale Trade
About 25% of the Virginia Beach labor force is employed in retail and wholesale.
Virginia Beach is an ethnically diverse city and strives to make its business land-
scape reflect that.
At more than 1.35 million square feet, Lynnhaven Mall is the largest shopping mall
in southern Virginia. It offers visitors an enormous selection of shopping, dining
The Department of Economic Development has intensified its focus on developing
and entertainment options with more than 180 stores, 17 restaurants and eater-
Small, Women and Minority-owned businesses by providing assistance and opportu-
ies, and a state-of-the-art AMC Theatres, and free parking.
nities to help these businesses flourish and achieve their goals.
Pembroke Mall is conveniently located in the Central Business District. It features
The Virginia Beach Minority Business Council assists the City to increase participa-
three major department stores, more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants, a
tion of Minority-owned, Woman-owned and Small businesses in the procurement
Regal Theater, and free parking.
process and to assure that opportunities are made available to all persons regard-
less of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or disability.
Other major retail areas include Hilltop, Red Mill Commons, Landstown Com-
mons, the resort area and the Town Center of Virginia Beach.
TOWN CENTEr Agribusiness
The Town Center of Virginia Beach is the heart of a mixed-use, urban development Agribusiness contributes significantly to the City’s overall economy. The econom-
within the City’s Central Business District. It is the home of entertainment, cul- ic impact of the agricultural community is estimated at more than $102.7 million,
tural, business and retail activities. The Town Center will eventually span 25 acres based on product valued at approximately $32 million. There are 172 farms in the
and 17 city blocks and will include 800,000 square feet of Class A office space, City, resulting in approximately 27,000 acres of land under cultivation.
832,500 sq. ft. of multi-level upscale retail space, a 4-star hotel and conference
center, luxury apartments and condominiums, fine dining and a variety of urban Construction and Real Estate
amenities. In 2007, Virginia Beach approved permits for the construction of 821 single-family
units, 69 duplex units and 99 multi-family units for a total of 989 residential units.
In addition, permits were issued for 7,132 residential additions/alterations, one ho-
ECONOMIC SECTOrS tel, six industrial buildings, 43 offices, four stores, two hospitals and two schools.
The total value of these building permits was $613,193,142.
Business and Industry
Virginia Beach has a variety of office, industrial, and commercial property encom-
passing almost 35 million square feet of total enclosed space. A diversified economy
based on a blend of professional office manufacturers and advanced technologies COMPANIES
helps keep Virginia Beach a recognized international business location. The following is a list of companies representative of Virginia Beach’s business base.
Military Name Product/Service Approx. # of
The Virginia Beach MSA is home to 12 major military installations representing Employees
all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the world’s largest naval base ADS Inc. Defense Contractor 350
and the home of the Atlantic Fleet. The bases located in Virginia Beach are Naval Air AECOM Architect & Design 110
Station (NAS) Oceana, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck, Naval Amphibious Allied Technology Group, Inc. Defense Contractor 350
Base Little Creek and Fort Story. These bases employ more than 32,000 military
AMERIGROUP Healthcare Services 2,100
and civilian employees with a combined annual payroll of more than $1.8 billion.
AMSEC LLC Engineering and
Computer Services 500
Convention Center and Trade Shows
Architectural Graphics, Inc. Sign Manufacturer 160
The Virginia Beach Convention Center completely opened in January 2007, unveil-
Armada Hoffler Developer
ing more than 500,000 square feet. This includes a 31,000-square-foot ballroom
and General Contractor 130
with LED lighting, a 150,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, 38,929 square
Bay Mechanical, Inc. General Mechanical
feet of meeting space and 2,230 free parking spaces.
Contractor & Manufacturer 225
CMSS Architects Architects 75
Coastal Training Technologies Corp. Training
Development 200
DOMA Technologies LLC Information Technology 160
GEICO Insurance 2,200
IMS Gear Manufacturer of Gears 60
IssueTrak Inc Software Development 35
Knowledge Information
Solutions, Inc. Information Technology 100
LifeNet Health Biomedical 500
Morphix Technologies Security Technology 38
As of June 2008, 167 conventions and meetings have been booked from July 2005 MSA, P.C. Engineering Services 80
– 2013 with more than 516,572 hotel room nights, and 38% is new business.
NGK-Locke, Inc. Manufacturer of
Polymer Insulators 150
Tourism Navy Exchange Service Command Retail Management 1,800
In 2007, 2.73 million overnight visitors arrived in Virginia Beach. The economic im-
Oceana Sensor Technologies, Inc. Manufacturer
pact (excluding indirect and induced effects) of the Virginia Beach tourism industry
of Electronic Sensors 30
saw a 4% increase in visitor spending, or approximately $889.9 million during their
PROSOFT Information Technology 200
stay for accommodations, meals, entertainment and other services. In addition,
Sentara Medical Group Health Services 4,646
more than 11,000 jobs were created in Virginia Beach, and visitor expenditures
generated $78.4 million in direct city revenue. Skanska USA Civil Southeast Industrial Construction 120
STIHL Incorporated Manufacturer of
Power Tools 1,800
VT Milcom Defense Contractor 280
Whitney, Bradley & Brown, Inc. Management Services 30

6. Minneapolis/St. Paul Boston
Milwaukee Newark
Detroit New York
Chicago Cleveland
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Washington, D.C.
Cincinnati
Kansas City St. Louis
VIRGINIA VIRGINIA BEACH
Louisville
Raleigh
Nashville
Memphis
Atlantic Ocean
Atlanta
500 Spherical Miles
804.5 Spherical km
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Orlando
750 Spherical Miles
1206.7 Spherical km
Miami
1000 Spherical Miles
1809 Spherical km
CITy COUNCIL MEMbErS
William D. Sessoms, Jr. – Mayor Barbara M. Henley – Princess Anne
Louis R. Jones – Vice Mayor – Bayside John E. Uhrin – Beach
Glenn R. Davis – Rose Hall Ron A. Villanueva – At Large
Bill R. DeSteph – At Large James L. Wood – Lynnhaven
Harry E. Diezel – Kempsville Rosemary Wilson – At Large
Bob Dyer – Centerville
James K. Spore – City Manager
222 Central Park Ave, Suite 1000
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
757-385-6464 | 800-989-4567 | Fax 757-499-9894
YesVirginiaBeach.com | Email ecdev@vbgov.com
For more information on the Virginia Beach economy, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com.
For more information on the regional economy visit www.HREDA.com
VB203.3/09.8k