Since the early 20th century, industry and manufacturing have been the lifeblood of Hopewell. Today, you’ll find that same grit, dedication and pride in production operating at multiple levels. While industrial manufacturing and chemical engineering remain instrumental to our city’s economy, the city is undergoing a revitalization, with a growing number of entrepreneurs and small-batch producers calling Hopewell home.
Our new Made in Hopewell initiative embraces our reputation as industrial and seeks to enhance awareness of both large- and small-scale manufacturers and their products. This branding and organizing effort will culminate in an inaugural conference and trade show on Oct. 4, known nationally as Manufacturing Day, with a goal to connect industries, entrepreneurs and small businesses who play important roles in that ongoing revitalization. We’ll have a robust discussion with plant leaders, educators and experts across different manufacturing sectors, showcase the products of entrepreneurs and small-batch businesses, and identify opportunities in this modern landscape.
We’re building on our position as one of Virginia’s top industrial communities. A recent report from Mangum Economics underscored that the $2.6 billion local manufacturing sector has a “demonstrably significant stabilizing effect” on Hopewell’s economy by generating the most jobs, offering the highest-paying jobs and continuing to be our greatest growth opportunity. The materials and products manufactured here influence and fuel the state’s economy, the national supply chain and the global marketplace. Positives and negatives come with being an industrial community, and, with Made in Hopewell, we’re not sweeping accompanying stigmas and stereotypes under the rug. Instead, we’re asking how we can intentionally leverage this impact locally. How can we motivate both large-scale and small-batch manufacturers to take more active roles in the revitalization story?
In paying homage to Hopewell’s legacy manufacturing identity, we’re actively redefining how manufacturing and skilled trades can function in a contemporary setting. A single business roasting coffee beans, an artisan who crafts and restores stringed instruments, a 3D printing operation by a husband and wife, and a modern-day alchemist who creates organic health supplements are all manufacturers — no matter if they call a storefront or their home their factory. In fact, Hopewell has strong numbers of residents who reported working from home, which includes those running “cottage” businesses.
The economy might depend on large industries, but local entrepreneurs are often the ones incrementally breathing life back into their communities.
In Downtown Hopewell, small-scale developers are launching and finding success and numerous historic buildings are under rehab downtown, mostly by locals. Made in Hopewell comes at a pivotal time. Nearly every day, my organization and city leaders are talking with or hosting external investors who see the potential for the next generation. As I walk through downtown, I track what crews have accomplished in the past 24 hours as co-working and maker spaces, retail shops, an art center, restaurants, breweries and apartments are in the works.
This momentum results from a blend of organic and targeted business development. The community-based transformation strategies we developed for downtown with the support of Main Street America lean into authenticity. Many post-industrial cities with similar profiles, including Pittsburgh and Duluth, Minnesota, are defining what their new reality means for them.
Unlike those localities, though, the diversity of industry in Hopewell and our surrounding region — including companies like AdvanSix, Evonik and Smurfit Westrock — provides a solid foundation and doesn’t make this a one-company town. As a result, we can focus our revitalization efforts on making this a destination city for living, playing and raising a family — not just working. That’s where Hopewell stands ahead of the curve — at the confluence of the pristine Appomattox River and the James River.
Rather than shy away from our industrial identity, we’re reclaiming it and promoting how Hopewell can be a leader in that ecosystem. Made in Hopewell will generate awareness, transparency, pride and new connections around our community’s advanced technical knowledge and locally made products — at all scales. And we’re drilling down to the small businesses and their quality-of-life role, whether serving the larger manufacturing workplace, the broader community or inspiring others to make this city home. Large and small producers need one another.
We’re serving up a bold model for how to balance history and innovation in the pursuit of sustainable stewardship and growth. Made in Hopewell is about Hopewell taking control of writing and telling its own story, including many past, present and future chapters.
Heather Lyne is executive director of the Downtown Hopewell Partnership, a grassroots organization founded in 2007 to nurture the city’s revitalization. She can be reached at heather@hopewelldowntown.com
