State Resources
Potential State Incentives
Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund
The Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund (COF) is a "deal-closing" fund to be employed at the Governor's discretion to secure a company location or expansion in Virginia. Administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the COF serves as a final resource for Virginia in the face of serious competition from other states or countries. The COF grant is a negotiated amount determined by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, based on the recommendation of VEDP, and subject to approval of the Governor.
Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund
The Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) provides performance-based monetary grants and loans to localities in Virginia's tobacco-producing regions (34 counties and six cities in southern and southwestern Virginia as defined by the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission) to assist in the creation of new jobs and investments, whether through new business attraction or existing business expansion. These grants and loans are awarded at the Commission's discretion. The TROF program is intended to support the goal of the Commission to revitalize and diversify the economies of tobacco-dependent regions and communities. This goal is measured by job creation, workforce participation rate, wealth, diversity of economy, and taxable assets.
Economic Development Access Program
The Economic Development Access (EDA) program is a state-funded incentive to assist localities in providing adequate road access to new and expanding manufacturing and processing companies, research and development facilities, distribution centers, regional service centers, corporate headquarters, government installations, and other basic employers with at least 51% of the company's revenue generated from outside the Commonwealth. EDA is administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Virginia Enterprise Zone Job Creation Grant
The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program is a partnership between state and local government that encourages job creation and private investment. VEZ accomplishes this by designating Enterprise Zones throughout the state and providing two grant-based incentives, the Job Creation Grant (JCG) and the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG), to qualified investors and job creators within those zones, while the local government provides local incentives.
Virginia Enterprise Zone Real Property Investment Grant
The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program is a partnership between state and local government that encourages job creation and private investment. VEZ accomplishes this by designating Enterprise Zones throughout the state and providing two grant-based incentives, the Job Creation Grant (JCG) and the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG), to qualified investors and job creators within those zones, while the locality provides local incentives.
Tax Credits & Exemptions
Commercial & Industrial Sales & Use Tax Exemption
Virginia offers sales and use tax exemptions for eligible equipment used directly in manufacturing and research and development operations. Prior to exemptions, the Commonwealth's combined state and local sales and use tax is 5.3% (4.3% state tax and 1% local tax). An additional regional sales tax is imposed in the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia regions at a rate of 0.7%, for a total 6.0% rate.
Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit
Qualified companies locating or expanding in Virginia are eligible to receive a $1,000 income tax credit for each new full-time job created over a threshold number of jobs beginning in the first taxable year following the taxable year in which the major business facility commenced or expanded its operations.
Recruitment & Training
Virginia Jobs Investment Program
The Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP) provides services and funding to companies creating new jobs or experiencing technological change to reduce the human resource development costs for new companies, expanding companies, and companies retraining their employees. Funding for each net new full-time job created or full-time employee retrained is based on a customized budget determined by an assessment of the company's recruiting and training activities. Funding is reimbursable 90 days after the trainee is hired (for new jobs programs) or after the retraining activity has occurred (for retraining programs).