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Friends of the Gateway Region,
Going into the second half of 2025, we’re building on the momentum we’ve gained with the addition of three new community members – each bringing unique strengths and opportunities to Virginia’s Gateway Region. On July 1, we officially welcomed these localities.
While all our members are committed to collaboration and partnership to bring new investments to our region, we are excited about how these new localities broaden our diversity and appeal to future investors – both domestically and internationally. Here’s just a snapshot of what makes our new members attractive and what they contribute to our overall message:
· Emporia has a tailored strategy to attract high-visibility businesses, support entrepreneurship and revitalize key commercial areas, which will make the city important for an enhanced quality of life in Southside Virginia.
· Brunswick County offers a rich legacy as Virginia’s leading timber producer, and its progressive vision aims for technology investments and unmanned manufacturing (plus, it’s the official home of Brunswick Stew).
· Greensville County features the only megasite in Virginia, North Carolina or Maryland certified by CSX with Interstate frontage; no other industrial site can combine this certification with Virginia's superlative, award-winning business climate.
We’ve already engaged with these economic development leaders in our daily outreach; we’ve been delighted to have our new colleagues join us on site tours and educational visits designed to deepen our knowledge of targeted industries, such as data centers. These communities also enrich our infrastructure with enhanced access to Interstates 95 and 85 and Route 58.
In this issue, you’ll get to meet Alfreda Reynolds, who heads up economic development efforts for Brunswick County. In the coming months, we’ll introduce you to key leaders in the City of Emporia and Greensville County, and you’ll learn more about the character, flavor and vision of each locality and how they will complement and shape the future of VGR.
Finally, our new community members, and the talented leaders in those communities, send a strong message to existing businesses and future companies that Virginia’s Gateway Region is vibrant, as we work together to enhance economic vitality across our region.
Keith Boswell
President & CEO
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