Strategic Location

  • Norfolk’s central location on the U.S. East Coast provides advantages: proximity to major business, financial, and governmental hubs, and availability to global markets
  • 43% of the U.S. population is less than a one-day drive

Home To The Largest Naval Station In The World

The Hampton Roads area is home to one of the world’s largest populations of  military personnel, with approximately 91,380 active duty military personnel.

Direct economic impact of the Navy in the region exceeds $15.4 billion per year. Also, $21.5 Billion of direct DoD Spending were recorded in 2018. The military currently has 54 ships homeported in the area and 35 aircraft squadrons. They also have a variety of Navy Special Forces and support units.  Norfolk celebrated the 100th anniversary of Norfolk’s Naval Base in 2017.

The Navy has awarded a $15.2 billion contract for the construction of two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding in 2019.  The ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2028 and 2032.

NATO – Norfolk Is The Only Home In North America

Norfolk is home to the Allied Command Transformation, the only NATO headquarters in North America, which is an essential symbol and instrument of the Trans-Atlantic link. Allied Command Transformation concentrates on Warfare Development and it is about adapting NATO’s military capacity to the constantly changing environment.  In 2018, NATO approved the addition of a Joint Force Command in Norfolk.

Home to Virginia’s Port

Dredging will be completed in early 2025 making Virginia home to the deepest port on the East Coast to serve the world’s ultra large container vessels. In 2019, the rail yard expansion was completed along with the $320 Million expansion of Virginia International Gateway VIG doubling the capacity of the existing operation.

In 2020, 60 Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes were placed and the $375 million expansion was completed. Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) Phase II will be complete in 2030. The cranes are the largest on the East Coast.

Virginia is the best choice for FTZ activities due to our strategic mid Atlantic location. Companies locating in FTZ 20 can benefit from advanced distribution networks; easy and reliable access to shipping channels, highways, railways, and airways.

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