About GO Virginia Region 3

GO Virginia Region 3 is one of nine regions in Virginia and includes the counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Prince Edward and the cities of Danville and Martinsville.

The Region 3 Council represents a broad net of business leaders, educational institutions, economic developers, and government-elected officials and staff.

1. Only one out of every four employees in Region 3 is currently employed in a position that creates or attracts wealth for the region. (National average: 36%)
2. Region 3 has an aging and shrinking population and is losing young talent.
3. Region 3 has a total population of 371,700 and total employment of 153,265 with a 5.3% unemployment rate (compare to the U.S unemployment rate of 4.1%).
4. The median income level in the region is $35,000.

July 2015: Virginia’s senior business leaders launched the GO Virginia Coalition.

December 2016: State’s nine regional boundaries set.

December 2017: First round of project funding approved.

February 2018 GO TEC (Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers) is Region 3’s first award recipient, given one of nine investments statewide.

July 2018: Funding for FY 2019 available.

Many of our localities are doing great things locally to spur regional economic development. Imagine what we can do when we combine forces, eliminate duplication of efforts and gain strength in numbers!

The Region 3 Council has identified these sectors as opportunities for regional economic development collaboration:

1. Business services/IT data centers
2. Advanced manufacturing and materials (aerospace, OTR/automotive, production technologies, biopharmaceutical, lighting & electrical equipment)
3. High-value natural resource products
4. Health care

1. Enhanced Capacity Building Grant for feasibility/market studies, pre-development activities and business, workforce or innovation strategies that set you up for success in implementing projects.
2. Per Capita Grant for implementation projects such as workforce development, business accelerators, research commercialization endeavors, business site development and more, as long as the projects involve two or more localities and have direct economic impact to Region 3.
3. State Competitive Grant primarily for implementation projects, stronger if involving two or more regions; designed for projects with the legs to compete for funding at the state level.

Find out how to apply here.