Existing and Expanding Business

Chesapeake’s vibrant business community offers unparalleled opportunities for our existing companies to expand, innovate and transform.

Dollar Tree Inc. developed into a Fortune 500 company, right here in Chesapeake, improving its ranking of No. 499 in 2009 to become No. 330. German-owned Becker Hydraulics USA expanded from a small sales office by launching its first U.S. manufacturing facility here. Start-up business the Big Ugly Brewing Company used innovative tactics to open a craft-brewery.

Innovation and transformation are intricately woven together in Chesapeake. It’s no wonder that 20 percent of the region’s largest employers, like Canon, Capital One, Cox Communications, General Dynamics, Xerox and USAA, are located in our city. Year after year, Chesapeake’s economy continues to generate multi-million dollar business investments and high-demand jobs. With connected transportation networks, diverse industry sectors, and a skilled 21st century workforce, Chesapeake is a thriving business center like no other.

Find out today how your company can prosper in Chesapeake.

Top 50 Major Employers

  1. Chesapeake City Public School Board
  2. City of Chesapeake
  3. Wal-Mart
  4. Chesapeake General Hospital
  5. MAC Services
  6. Sentara Healthcare
  7. Cox Communications Hampton
  8. QVC Chesapeake
  9. Capital One Services II LLC
  10. Onsite Engineering & Mana Inc.
  11. Norfolk Cent YMCA
  12. Food Lion
  13. Farm Fresh
  14. Canon Information Technology
  15. Tidewater Community College
  16. Medical Management Service Inc.
  17. Lifetouch National School
  18. Oceaneering International
  19. Target Corp.
  20. U.S. Department of Homeland Defense
  21. The Home Depot
  22. Technico Corporation
  23. Anteon Corporation
  24. Excellerate Ehro, LLP
  25. Alutiiq Pacific
  26. Dollar Tree Management
  27. Southeast Virginia Training Center
  28. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
  29. Wendy’s
  30. First Data Resource
  31. Caci Acquisition Inc.
  32. Dollar Tree Distribution
  33. Xerox HR Solutions LLC
  34. Lowes’ Home Centers, Inc.
  35. Reliance Staffing Services
  36. May Department Stores Company
  37. Red Lobster & The Olive Garden
  38. Plasser American Corporation
  39. St. Brides Correctional Center
  40. Gretna Health Care Center
  41. Greenbrier International Inc.
  42. Serco Inc.
  43. Map Mobile Communications
  44. McDonald’s #1466
  45. Tidewater Fibre Corporation
  46. Indian Creek Correctional Center
  47. Flowserve Red Corporation
  48. Harris Teeter Supermarket
  49. Hall Automotive LLC
  50. Hardee’s

Source: Virginia Employment Commission, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), 4th Quarter (October, November, December) 2014.

Existing Industries

Professional Business Services and Technology
Healthcare
Maritime, Logistics and Transportation
Defense Technologies, Services and Support
Manufacturing Leisure and Hospitality
Knowledge Services
Retail Development

Existing Business Partners

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Genedge Manufacturing Alliance

Workforce

Northernmost Right-to-Work State

  • Among the lowest worker’s compensation insurance rates in the country
  • Civilian labor force exceeds 118,351 for Chesapeake and 767,837 for the MSA (April 2010)
  • Salaries below national average
  • Unemployment rate is 6.6%, lower than the U.S. (9.3%) (July 2011)
  • Local labor force is augmented annually by: – More than 17,000 exiting military personnel – 40,000 military spouses – More than 8,500 graduating college students Labor Inventory
  • Education/Healthcare – 17.43%
  • Professional Business Services – 17.24%
  • Retail – 15.61%
  • Leisure – 11.13%
  • Construction – 9.02%
  • Government – 4.67%
  • TWU – 4.61%
  • Manufacturing – 4.58%
  • Wholesale – 4.34%
  • Fire – 4.13%
  • Other Services – 3.8%
  • Information – 2.94%
  • Natural Resources – 0.21%

Workforce Partners

Opportunity Inc. of Hampton Roads
Tidewater Community College Workforce Development
Virginia Employment Commission
Southeastern Virginia Rapid Response Team

Educational Partners in Chesapeake

  • Chesapeake Public Schools
  • Chesapeake Center for Science & Technology
  • Tidewater Community College (TCC) Four-Year Colleges/Universities in the Region
  • Christopher Newport University
  • College of William and Mary
  • Eastern Virginia Medical School
  • Hampton University
  • Norfolk State University
  • Old Dominion University
  • Regent University
  • Virginia Wesleyan College