GO Virginia Region 2: An Overview

GO Virginia Makes Significant Economic Impact on Region 2 

GO Virginia, an economic development initiative launched by Virginia’s senior business leaders, was conceived to create higher wage jobs and grow the state’s economy through transformational projects. The initiative addresses the critical need for private sector growth and relies on effective collaboration among local businesses, higher education institutions, and local governments. Dividing the state into nine regions that are aligned geographically and share similar economic development and workforce needs, GO Virginia uses individual regional councils to oversee the efforts and project submissions for each region.

Region 2 of GO Virginia spans across three metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and regional commissions on the western half of the state. The region is comprised of the Lynchburg, New River Valley, and Roanoke-Alleghany MSAs. In total, Region 2 contains thirteen counties and five independent cities: the counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Roanoke; and the cities of Covington, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem. The region’s population of 781,531 made up 9.1% of Virginia’s 2020 total population. Each of these areas has a strong history of local cooperation, and some experience with interregional collaboration, primarily between the New River and Roanoke Valleys. Together, they all share many economic similarities: traditional industry strengths in manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture; emerging technology sectors; mixed urban and rural characteristics; and higher education and healthcare as economic and employment drivers. 

The four (4) target industry clusters identified in GO Virginia Region 2 are: 

• Transportation Manufacturing & Automation 
  
• Life Sciences & Biotechnology
  
• IT & Emerging Technology
  
• Materials & Machinery Manufacturing

Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement serves as Region 2’s support organization. The support organization provides fiduciary oversight and administrative services for activities related to GO Virginia in Region 2.