G R E A T E R R I C H M O N D , V I R G I N I A U S A

YEAR IN REVIEW

HEADLINES & NEWSMAKERS

Accolades & AwardsOne of the top Best Cities for Business among 102 metro areas, rated by the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.com, Dec. 13, 2011.

The Richmond region is the third-best metropolitan area in the country for military retirees to launch a second career, by the USAA fi nancial services fi rm and Military.com, Nov. 9, 2011.

Richmond ranked in the top 10 of the 50 Best Cities for Working Mothers by Forbes.com, Oct. 18,2011.

Chesterfi eld and Hanover counties are among America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People, by America’s Promise Alliance, Oct. 2011.

Ranked one of the 20 Happiest Cities for Young Professionals in America by Forbes.com, Sept. 8, 2011.

One of the nation’s 50 best places for business and careers by Forbes.com, June 29, 2011.

Ranked the 12th most fi t among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas by the American College of Sports Medicine American Fitness Index, May 2011.

Richmond City has been named the Best Small American City of the Future for Foreign Invest-ment. It also ranked as the third Top Small Cities FDI Strategy and fi fth overall for Small Cities Business Friendliness in Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine’s North American Cities of the Future 2011/12, April 2011.

The region ranked number four among 10 best cities for commuters, by Kiplinger.com, March 11, 2011.

Virginia ranked as the second best state for busi-ness in 2011 by Forbes.com. Virginia took fi rst place for four years in a row, from 2006 to 2009, and ranked second in 2010.

Virginia has the 4th best business climate in the nation, according to Site Selection Magazine, Nov. 2011.

Virginia was ranked fi rst among top 10 pro-busi-ness states by Pollina Corporate Real Estate for three consecutive years (2011, 2010 and 2009).

Whether in sports, art or business, through-out 2011 Greater Richmond was mak-ing headlines and the world was paying

attention. Richmond was dubbed “Hoopstown USA” thanks

to Virginia Commonwealth University and the Uni-versity of Richmond’s fantastic streaks in the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament. In a global competition, Richmond was chosen to host cycling’s 2015 Road World Championships. The Virginia Mu-seum of Fine Arts hosted the only East Coast exhibit of “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris.” Major Hollywood stars were photo-graphed around town during Steven Spielberg’s film-ing of the biopic, “Lincoln.”

Forbes.com, CNBC, Businessweek.com and sev-eral other media outlets continued to name Virginia and Greater Richmond as a top location to live, work, learn, play, and to do business.

GE and Amazon made news by choosing the re-gion to expand their businesses. Local companies, like Capital One, Allianz (formerly known as Mondial Assistance USA), and Health Diagnostics Laboratory, announced significant plans for expansion.

Below are some further examples of the encourag-ing business news from Greater Richmond in the last year. For more details and additional 2011 highlights, please refer to the timeline in the full fold-out.

Information Communications & Technologies Industry GE announced its new Information Security

Technology Center that would create approximately 200 new high-tech jobs. The jobs will focus on cyber security, network design, architecture, data manage-ment and application development. SnagAJob, an online job search and software

development company, received a $27 million invest-ment to help expand its operations, increase market-ing, and make possible acquisitions. Peak 10, a data storage company, completed an

expansion of its data center, which nearly doubled its facility to 30,000 square feet.

Advanced Manufacturing & Food Processing Industry Rolls-Royce started production at its aircraft-

engine components plant after more than three years of planning, development and construction. Fareva took over operations at Pfizer’s consumer

products site, which manufactures Advil, Chapstick and Robitussin. The nearly 500 Pfizer employees at the plant transferred to Fareva and 90 additional posi-tions will be added. Fortistar, a clean energy company, began work

on a 6.4-megawatt power plant at an eastern Hen-rico County landfill. The $12 to $15 million plant

will convert the methane gas released by decompos-ing waste into electricity.

Creative & Knowledge Based Industry Elephant Insurance has grown to more than

100 employees since being established in 2009. Head-quartered in Henrico County, the company an-nounced service expansions to Maryland and Illinois with plans to eventually employ 2,000 workers. Allianz, a Henrico company that provides travel

insurance, is moving into the former Circuit City Stores Inc. headquarters facility. The company has quadrupled in size from 213 to 870 employees since 2000 with further plans to expand. Capital One, the Richmond region’s largest

employer, announced plans to purchase ING’s U.S. online banking unit for $9 billion. When the deal closes, Capital One will move from the eighth largest bank in the United States to the fifth largest.

Life Sciences Industries Health Diagnostic Laboratory, LLC (HDL)

has experienced tremendous growth since opening in the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park in 2009. HDL has grown from 11 employees to nearly 300 cur-rently. The company began its two-phase expansion plan in November, which includes redevelopment of two buildings and plans to hire 653 new employees, bringing its total Richmond employment to 950.

Emerson Ecologics, LLC, the leading provider of professional-grade nutritional supplements to the healthcare practitioner market, will open a new distri-bution facility in Chesterfield County. The company will invest up to $1 million and create up to 60 jobs. The United Network for Organ Sharing

(UNOS) purchased a vacant 51,000-square-foot of-fice building to use as a second location. The group, which runs the nation’s organ transplant system, has experienced high growth, particularly within its IT department.

Supply Chain Management Industry Amazon announced plans to open two fulfill-

ment centers in the Richmond region, investing a to-tal of $135 million and creating 1,350 new jobs. The facilities are expected to be completed by Fall 2012. Estes Express Lines, a locally based trucking

giant, purchased an 83,000-square-foot office build-ing to accommodate its growth. Enviva, a leading manufacturer of processed

biomass headquartered in Richmond, has acquired a port terminal in Chesapeake, Va. Worldwide demand for biomass has surged and the new investment will facilitate the export of approximately 3 million tons of biomass fuel to European markets.

Lift here!

Business attraction compliments expansions in 2011

New CompaniesExpanding & Existing CompaniesCleanTech NewsTransportationCulture & Recreation

Over the past four years, the Henrico RF&P com-plex has hosted several national events including the Babe Ruth World Series, the Triple Crown National Baseball Championships and the American Legion Junior League State Baseball tournament. These events have helped bring $25 million a year in con-sumer spending to the Richmond region.

As part of a federal grant, Virginia will receive $44 million to develop a high-speed rail corridor between Rich-mond and Washington, D.C. North Carolina will receive $4 million for analysis and preliminary engineering to connect Raleigh to Richmond.

The United Network for Organ Shar-ing, a Richmond-based non-profit, purchased a vacant 51,000-square-foot office building in Jackson Ward to use as a sec-ond location. The group, which runs the nation’s organ transplant system, has experienced high growth, particularly within its IT department.

The Hanover Tomato Festival drew more than 40,000 visitors and featured locally-grown tomatoes, food vendors, music and tomato-themed contests.

Already the region’s largest private employer, fast-growing Capital One announced that it will add 300 more jobs here by the end of 2011.

Amazon.com Inc. is planning to open two distribution centers in the Richmond area next fall that would employ a total of 1,350 people.

The $135 million investment

in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties is Virginia’s largest single economic development deal since 2004 in terms of jobs created.

Dominion is seeking approval to lease rooftops and grounds of commercial businesses and public facilities for electricity-generating solar panels. The proposed multi-year project would generate enough electricity to power about 6,000 homes.

The Richmond region has received a federal grant of $429,051 to help develop a network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The money was awarded to the Va. Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy, and will fund the Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative.

Both VCU and UR made it to the Sweet 16 and VCU made it to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basket-ball tournament. The total impact is immeasurable; application rates have increased along with game attendance, television viewers, and school merchandise sales. VCU’s athletic fund will receive $400,000 each of the next four years.

Richmond Unite’s DSRPT11 conference, headlined by Richard Bran-son, drew 600 people to the Greater Rich-mond Convention Center.

The Carytown Merchants Association’s 28th annual Carytown Watermelon

Festival drew 100,000 people who con-sumed 2,500 water-

melons. The street festival benefitted the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Mid-Atlantic Conve-nience Stores celebrated the opening of its new Chesterfield headquarters in March. The company was created when the Conn.-based private-equi-ty firm, Catterton Partners, acquired a majority inter-est in the Uppy’s chain.

The Richmond Folk Festival continues to break records as the free event drew an estimated 200,000 people. More than $92,000 was donated to continue the annual cultural festival.

Enviva, a leading manufacturer of processed biomass headquartered in Richmond, has acquired a port terminal in Chesapeake, Va. Worldwide demand for biomass has surged and the new investment will facilitate the export of approximately three million tons of biomass fuel to European markets.

Virginia Business named CRT/tanaka the 2011 Best Place to Work in Va. in the small busi-

nesses category. The PR and marketing firm believes that hard work, respect for fellow em-ployees, client-centric

teamwork and family-friendly work schedules should all be held in equally high regard.

Cuore, a new Chesterfield telemarketing firm, plans to expand from 40 em-ployees to more than 400 by the end of 2011. Coure has received help screening potential employees from the RESOURCE Business Solutions Team, Chester-field County, the Greater Richmond Partnership and the Community College Workforce Alliance.

Emerson Ecologics, LLC, the leading provider of professional-grade nutritional supplements to the healthcare practitioner

market, will open a new distribution facility in Chester-field County. The company will

invest up to $1 million and create up to 60 jobs.

abakus solar USA has announced its decision to locate in the City of Richmond to distribute solar panels and components. The new Richmond location will be the company’s first entry into the U.S. market.

Since being attracted to the Richmond region by the Greater Richmond Partnership in 2009, Elephant Insurance has maintained a steady rate of growth. As of March 2011, Elephant had hired around 100 employees, and hopes to eventually employ 2,000. The auto insurer is now expanding into Maryland and Illinois, selling its products online and over the phone from its office in western Henrico.

Romp n’ Roll, a fast-growing, locally-based children’s gym franchise, has plans to open seven new loca-tions in China early next year. There are already six success-ful Romp n’ Roll locations in the Beijing area.

Richmond has been chosen to host the 2015 Road World Championships, a nine-day bicycling event that could bring more than 450,000 people from 70 countries and $135.3 million in estimated eco-nomic benefit to the region. The event will be broadcasted worldwide, showcasing the city on TV to millions of cycling fans around the world.

CapTech, a rapidly growing mobile-technol-ogy developer headquartered in the City of Richmond, will open a new branch office in Philadelphia and expand its presence in Northern Virginia.

Best Bully, an online retailer of all-natural dog treats, purchased 25,000 square feet of warehouse space to accom-modate business growth. The company em-ploys about 25 and mails between 500 and 1,000 orders daily.

Rolls-Royce Plc has started produc-tion at its aircraft-engine compo-nents plant. About 58 people are now em-ployed at the plant, with plans to expand to 130.

The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k featured 41,314 runners and walkers, marking the 12th consecutive year the race has set an entry record.

Fareva, a contract manufacturing firm, has taken over operations at Pfizer’s consumer products manufacturing site, which manu-factures and pack-ages products such as Advil, Chap-stick, and Robitus-sin. All of the nearly 500 Pfizer employees at the plant will transfer to Fareva and an additional 90 positions will be added.

Old Dominion Warehouse & Distribution expanded into an additional 10,748 square feet of space for a total of 32,244 square feet in Richmond.

Markel Corp. plans to buy Thomp-son Insurance Enterprises LLC, a privately held administrator that underwrites and manages industry-focused insurance programs.

An estimated 25,000-plus people attend Dominion Riverrock, the Brown’s Island sports and outdoor festival produced by Venture Richmond and the Sports Backers.

GE announced plans to open an Information Security Technology Center in Henrico County, creating approximately 200 new high-tech jobs. The new positions will focus on cyber security, network design, architecture, data management, and application development.

Henrico County’s Peak 10 recently completed an expansion of its data center, which nearly doubled the facility to 30,000 square feet. The data storage company has experienced increased customer demand, even during the recession.

Health Diagnostic Laboratory, LLC (HDL) has experi-enced tremendous growth since opening in 2009, growing

from 11 employees to nearly 300. The company announced it will begin

its two-phase expansion plan in November which includes redevelopment of two buildings and plans to hire 653 new employees, bringing its total Richmond employment to 950.

Henrico-based SnagAJob.com, an online job search and software development company, received a $27 million investment lead by a venture capi-tal firm in March. This investment will help the company expand its operations, increase its marketing, and possibly make acquisitions. The company signed a lease in April for a new 67,000-square-foot head-quarters building, which will ac-commodate its growing workforce.

The economic impact of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ recent Picasso exhibit was $26.6 million in the Rich-mond region. More than 230,000 visi-tors came to see the touring exhibit.

Capital One, the Richmond region’s largest employer, announced plans to purchase ING’s U.S. online banking unit for $9 billion. Once the deal closes, Capital One will move from the eighth largest bank in the United States to the fifth largest.

Fairfax-based ICF International, a provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, plans to buy Iron-works Consulting LLC, an interactive Web development firm in western Henrico County, for $100 million in cash.

The Suntrust Marathon drew more than 17,000 partici-pants and many spectators at the 34th annual marathon.

CarePoint Medical, a provider of shoes to diabetic patients, has outgrown its current headquarters and has leased new space. The company plans to bring on 50 to 200 new employees in the next 12 months.

Estes Express Lines, a locally based trucking giant, purchased an 83,000-square-foot of-fice building to accom-modate its growth. The new building, formerly the home of Universal Corporation, will be occupied gradually as needed.Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven

Spielberg decides to shoot his highly-anticipated feature film “Lincoln” in the Richmond and Petersburg areas, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field. Filming began in the fall with

a 2012 release date. Bank of America reached an agreement to purchase 65 acres in Henrico’s White Oak Technol-ogy Park. The company plans to construct a 400,000-square-foot financial services processing center.

Greater Richmond’s tacky lights were recognized nationally by CBS Sunday Morning. Bill Geist adventured into the area to accompany one of the tour buses that takes travelers to the most outland-ish holiday-inspired lighting displays.

The Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. was launched in 1994 to serve as the regional economic development group for the City of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.

The Partnership has four main work activities: Business Attraction & Regional Marketing: Provides site loca-

tion assistance to domestic and international companies planning new or expanded facilities. Business Retention & Expansion: Works to retain and grow exist-

ing businesses through a collaborative effort of resources, services and support through the Business First Greater Richmond program. Talent Development & Promotion: Works to develop, retain and

attract a high quality workforce and fully connect businesses to the available labor pool using RichmondJobNet.com. New Business Formation & Small Business Support: Provides

counseling, training, education and information services for small business owners and future business owners through a partnership with the Greater Richmond Chamber.

The Partnership is organized as a public-private, not-for-profit corporation funded jointly by the four local governments and more than 120 area businesses. The Partnership staff has more than 180 years of economic development, business and community devel-opment experience combined, which ensures that inquiries are handled in a professional and timely manner. Services are provided at no cost to the company and with complete confidentiality.

United States, CanadaGregory H. Wingfi eld, President & CEO901 East Byrd Street | Suite 801Richmond, VA 23219-40701-800-229-6332 | 804-643-3227 tel. | 804-343-7167 faxWebsite: www.grpva.com

United Kingdom, Scandinavia, The NetherlandsAndrew HarfootSpringboard Marketing Limited1 Tonbridge Chambers | Pembury RoadTonbridge, Kent TN9 2HZ, United Kingdom44-1732-363399 tel. | 44-1732-352304 faxE-mail: Andrew.harfoot@springboard-marketing.co.uk

Germany, Austria, SwitzerlandEdith Pfl ugDirector, European OperationsPoststrasse 15-23D-50676 Cologne, Germany49-221-232602 tel. | 49-221-2407357 faxE-mail: pfl ug@grpeurope.de

About the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc.

Contact Us

In addition to English, we offer 13 country-specifi c brochures and translations in eight languages. Please visit www.grpva.com for more information.

Other publications available

please recycleFebruary 2012