Virginia is second in nation with most Top 50 Best Colleges
Virginia is second only to California as the state with the most colleges in the top 50 on Money magazine’s 2019 Best Colleges in America list. The University of Virginia was ranked 10th in the annual list, the highest for any Virginia university. Money points out that U.Va. has the highest graduation rate of any public […]
Chamber’s Blueprint Virginia 2025 has encouraged regional leaders to take long view of goals, instead of looking at short-term gains
For the first time since 2011, Virginia reclaimed its position in the CNBC annual rankings as the best state for business. The rankings are based on such metrics as the cost of doing business, education and cost of living. At a breakfast event with the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning, Barry DuVal, president […]
Virginia ranks high in internet-speed survey
Virginia ranks fifth nationally in average internet speed, according to a recent survey. HighSpeedInternet.com ranked the states using data from more than a million speed tests completed by consumers on its website. Virginia’s average internet speed was 55.98 megabits per second (Mbps). States ranking ahead of Virginia were: Maryland — 65.02 Mbps New Jersey — 59.58 […]
2019 Legislation Regarding Legal Reform
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce experienced great success during the 2019 legislative session, defeating anti-business bills which, if passed, would have cost Virginia employers almost $18 billion annually in burdensome regulations, unnecessary mandates, and higher operational costs. We were also successful in saving over 156,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. As a result of the pro-business […]
U.S. Chamber Foundation Launches Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone in Central Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes and the state of Virginia announce an expansion of the Virginia Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone (MSEEZ). “Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zones are at the forefront in the efforts to combat the staggering military spouse unemployment rate,” said Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our […]
Building a better workforce: Chamber program helps firms gain access to transitioning service members
Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, says his organization’s job is to help the commonwealth become the best state for business. “The way to do that is to have the best workforce,” he says. DuVal believes one avenue for achieving that goal is capturing the expertise, enterprise and energy of […]
WORKFORCE READINESS AND HOW IT IMPACTS BUSINESSES
“TO CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT GOES INTO YOUR MIND” A top concern for businesses today is workforce readiness. Work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships can improve and better prepare Virginia’s skilled workforce. While the Commonwealth of Virginia had an unemployment rate of 2.9% in […]
Barry DuVal OpEd: Free trade and economic competitiveness
Barry DuVal OpEd: Free trade and economic competitiveness By: Barry DuVal Virginia is home to a business community known for creating jobs and economic opportunities across a diverse range of industries. Consumers and businesses around the world purchase and enjoy our made-in-Virginia products at an affordable cost, all of which is not possible without free […]
Local businesses cautious over Trump tariffs on steel, aluminum imports
The following article is from the Danville Register and Bee: President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will bring a rise in prices on raw materials, but some local businesses wonder if it will be worth it. “It will definitely be a price increase, but it will give us American-made steel back,” said […]
Spotlight On: Blueprint Virginia 2025 Drives Job Growth and Economic Development
Barry DuVal recently joined host Kathryn Falk of Cox Communications for Spotlight On. They discussed Blueprint Virginia 2025 and Virginia’s strategy for economic growth
