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
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

Unemployment rate is 6.6%, lower than the U.S. (9.3%) (July 2011)
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