Throughout my Navy and corporate careers there was an understanding that leaders are expected to develop a strategic vision for their organizations and be willing to make the difficult decisions to move the mission forward. It was also understood that “sometimes you make a decision, by not making a decision.”
In 2013, Congress’ inability to come to an agreement on the budget resulted in a 16-day shutdown of the federal government that severely impacted Virginia’s economy. It was in this economic chaos that then-Governor McAuliffe made a deliberate decision to diversify Virginia’s economy away from an overreliance on the federal government. It took time, but Virginia emerged more resilient, less dependent on any single employer, agency or budget cycle.
But now, over a decade later, our overdependence on the federal government has re-emerged as cuts under President Trump are again threatening the economic well-being of the commonwealth. While this federal dependency is primarily in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, Cardinal News routinely highlights that Southwest, Southern, and rural Virginia need to be concerned about what happens in Northern Virginia.
As we draw upon the lessons from 2013, and begin to define a strategic blueprint for 2026 and beyond, the economic diversification pursued 13 years ago should be expanded from not just what work Virginia does, but also where that work is done, and who are the end customers. This enhanced approach will truly begin to insulate the commonwealth from too heavy reliance on a single region or the federal government.
Southern Virginia’s moment
Many groups and individuals have contributed toward the ongoing economic revitalization of Southern Virginia. Whether it’s been local governments and regional organizations working with multiple administrations to make investments in business ready sites, investments approved by the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Commission, or my previous work as the chair of the Manufacturing Development Commission, many stakeholders from across the region and around the state have recognized the tremendous economic potential of Southern Virginia.
These initiatives are now delivering substantial private sector investments that will not only diversify our state’s economy, but diversify where the work is done.
Recent announcements from Microporous and Hitachi have included $1.9 billion in capital investment and nearly 3,500 new jobs. A region once defined by sprawling textile mills, furniture manufacturing and rolling fields of tobacco is now attracting globally relevant, capital-intensive industries tied to energy storage, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Defining a new north-south Virginia partnership
In a recent visit to Southern Virginia, I learned about the ever increasing need for workforce development training for these new companies calling Southern Virginia “home.”
With Microporous and Hitachi bringing thousands of new jobs to the area, and additional investment on the horizon, there is an urgent need for education, training and professional development at all educational levels. Some of this will be provided by local public schools, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, or the Danville Community College.
But to meet the full spectrum, end-to-end professional development requirements and maintain Southern Virginia as a premier destination for other companies, we also need robust undergraduate and graduate programs in advanced sciences, management, human resources, strategic planning and engineering.
While Averett University, a private four-year university in Danville, has served the local and regional community for more than a century, these new corporate investments and the unprecedented growth potential for the region could be further amplified with the presence of one of Virginia’s premier R1 research institutions. With these strategic objectives in mind, I have introduced a budget amendment authorizing George Mason University to explore a public-private partnership with Averett University to expand opportunity and economic development in Southern Virginia.
Each university can bring something unique and valuable to a partnership. Averett offers over 100 years of local knowledge, community trust and existing educational infrastructure. While George Mason brings scale, academic systems, and research capability and credibility.
Working with community institutions like GO Virginia Region 3, the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and regional philanthropic partners such as the Danville Regional Foundation and the Future of the Piedmont Foundation, this public-private partnership can leverage the state’s longstanding commitment and significant investment in the economic transformation of Southern Virginia. It will also demonstrate how state and local governments can work with schools, universities and the private sector to create opportunity and prosperity that lifts an entire region.
More importantly, this partnership could help bring our commonwealth closer together by shrinking the perceived distance and strengthening the economic ties between our northern and southern regions.
David Reid is a member of the House of Delegates from Loudoun County. He is a Democrat.