News
Blog | 4 min read
Southern hospitality meets business relocation
March 2, 2022
Depending on where you’re coming from, you may have different ideas on whether Richmond, Virginia, is considered the South. But if you’re looking for a personal touch with a sprinkle of southern hospitality, Richmond is the perfect addition to your short list.
Greater Richmond, located in the northernmost Right to Work state on the East Coast, attracts many companies for business relocation in part thanks to its mid-Atlantic location. While the region draws companies for several reasons, it’s often the southern hospitality that attracts employees.
We grabbed CEO Jennifer Wakefield in between meetings to get her insights on what makes Greater Richmond so hospitable – from business development short-list nurturing, to moving an HQ and finding a new home in the region.
A warm welcome from GRP
Greater Richmond may be located in the mid-Atlantic area along the East Coast, but we’re proud of the region’s southern grit. We’re also proud of GRP’s nimble team because it allows us to embody the southern hospitality this part of the U.S. is known for.
“We want to make people feel as warm and welcomed as possible,” Wakefield said. “The GRP team is smaller than most organizations, which allows for a more personable experience. Our job is to help people realize that they’re looking at their next home, not just a business location.”
When a company representative visits Greater Richmond, the GRP team makes them feel welcome and schedules a detailed itinerary based on their needs and the resources available to ongoing operations. GRP values the time that the company spends in-market and wants to make sure that their visit to Greater Richmond is beneficial to their site selection process.
But don’t just take our word for it. CoStar, BGB Technology, Inc. and Mavalério have demonstrated “Why Richmond” better than we ever could.
Convenience and safety, among other advantages
Ask any Richmonder how long it takes to get somewhere in the region, and chances are, the answer is going to be thanks to the highway infrastructure in and around Greater Richmond. In fact, Richmond is one of the lesser congested cities in the nation according to the Texas Transportation Institute. This adds to the appeal – not only for getting a workforce to your door – but also provides your current team access to all the region has to offer.
Greater Richmond is also situated perfectly within the commonwealth: a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., the Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic beaches. It’s inland enough to miss most major hurricanes and storm systems that may threaten coastal communities, with very little excitement over the years from other natural and geologic disturbances. All this equals a natural business-contingency plan.
“It’s a low-risk region when you’re considering some of the natural elements that may interfere with business operations,” Wakefield added.
Hospitality through ESG
While some neighboring states may dangle a variety of incentives or a different mix of union and workforce policies, the region has a lot to offer that may be more appealing to an organization with ESG front of mind.
“Greater Richmond is a good environment for companies who are very focused on the environment, diversity, sustainability and inclusivity,” Wakefield said. “We’re home to Dominion, CoStar and many others that have looked to Richmond as a place to meet those ESG goals.”
The region is also home to Virginia’s Capitol, making it a central location to conduct and advocate for business in Virginia.
In the spirit of southern hospitality we’re here to lend a hand and welcome you to Greater Richmond. Contact one of our team members to let us know how we can help.
