Economic Development

Choose Gloucester: The Land of Life Worth Living

Beautiful Gloucester County is centrally positioned between the major metro areas of Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Washington, DC. Our labor force of 20k workers includes college students, military spouses, and retiring military personnel. The major thoroughfare Route 17 has 37k drivers per day, and Gloucester is near three international airports. Located on the Chesapeake Bay, we have hundreds of miles of shoreline and access to the country's most active shipping terminals. Award-winning schools offer technical and college prep classes, and we are home to Rappahannock Community College and William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science. You'll find affordable land here, and real estate taxes among the lowest in the region.

Gloucester strives to be a community "open for business" with a welcoming and positive business-friendly attitude. Our mission is to promote and improve the economic health and quality of life in Gloucester. Whether you're starting, expanding, or relocating your business, be it manufacturing, retail, small or home-based business, the Economic Development Department is here for you!

  1. News
  2. Past

Art as a Business Workshop speaker Marc Willson shares tips for artists

On November 1st, two dozen artists gathered to participate in Marc Wilson’s workshop Art as a Business at Main Street Center. He shared practical tips on how to make a living on art—the brass tacks being 1. Get Found 2. Be Open. Topics included ways to put your business online, get top search results, and grow an audience. Participants also learned about the importance of a “destination statement” and ways to apply broader retail/sales advice to a gallery or art co-op setting. Attendees also had the opportunity to share their story and network. Shelia Al Madanat of SJM Image and Sound said, "I really enjoyed the workshop and it definitely added to my knowledge.

Art as a Business was arranged by the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (HRSBDC), the Gloucester Main Street Association (GMSA), and Gloucester County Economic Development Department. 

If you missed the talk, it will be screened on Cox 48 TV daily at 6:00am and 8:00pm, and is available to watch online below.

  1. Upcoming Events

Free Business Consulting Appointments
November 21 and December 19 by appointment
Gloucester Library, 6920 Main St, Gloucester

Quickbooks Quick and Dirty | Home Based Business Lunch & Learn
November 13, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Bay Transit Center Conference Room, 5959 Fiddlers Green Rd, Gloucester
Karen Burtnette of By the Book, Inc. will present Quickbooks Quick and Dirty: Tips on Proper Bookkeeping. This is a free educational and networking event for small and home-based business owners. The November meeting is part of the regional Lunch & Learn Series presented by York County, Williamsburg, James City County, Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, and Gloucester County. RSVP.

Quarterly Business Breakfast: Empathetic Customer Care
November 19, 8:00am-10:00am
Gloucester Arts on Main, 6850 B Main Street, Gloucester
Please join us for breakfast preceding a presentation and panel discussion on practical tips for businesses to compassionately serve their customer base, identify behavioral changes in customers, and deal with real-world situations. This educational event will prepare staff and teams from restaurants, banks, retail, offices, or in-home services to interact with a diverse population. Clinical psychologist Dr. Paul Malone will speak on “Dealing with Dementia” and his commitment to transitioning our local areas into Dementia Friendly America (DFA) Communities. Executive Director Marie Kolendo of the Alzheimer’s Association and a representative from the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board will join the panel to share their expertise and experiences. This event is presented by the Gloucester Department of Economic Development and the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce. To register, visit www.gloucestervachamber.org. Tickets are $12 per person and include breakfast.

Selling Online | Home Based Business Lunch & Learn
December 18, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Bay Transit Center Conference Room, 5959 Fiddlers Green Rd, Gloucester
Peace Frogs entrepreneur Catesby Jones will share his expertise selling goods on online platforms like Amazon. RSVP.

Home-Based Business Conference 2020
March 20, 2020, 8:00am-4:00pm
Peninsula Workforce Development Center, 600 Butler Farm Road, Hampton
This unique event features a resource fair with over 20 exhibitors, as well as conference sessions and specialty breakout talks focused on topics relevant to all stages and types of home-based businesses. Whether you are thinking of starting a new home-based business, or have operated a traditional, franchise, or direct marketing home-based business for years, this event is for you! Topics include Cybersecurity, Insurance, Taxes, Legal Matters, Networking Tips, and Marketing. There will be networking sessions, a raffle, plus professional headshots available for $25. Applications for exhibitor tables are also open. The conference is a collaborative initiative of the Virginia Peninsula. Get tickets.

For more information, contact lallen@gloucesterva.info.

  1. Resources

Business Incentives

During the initial four years of this program, we have approved and awarded 149 grants in the amount of $245,617.00. Private investment totals $6,213,747.00 from new and expanding businesses.

  • Property Improvement
  • Façade Improvement
  • Advertising
  • Website Design & Development

Free Business Consulting

Jim Carroll, executive director of the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, is Gloucester for private consulting appointments every month! Meetings are free and held at the Gloucester Library on Main Street. Contact Lucy to schedule an appointment.

Monthly e-Newsletter

Sign up for Business Monthly e-News today for the latest department updates, local business news and awards, upcoming events, entrepreneur training opportunities, available properties, and more! Read recent issues: July | Aug | Sept | Oct

Business Directory

An up-to-date and comprehensive directory of small businesses in Gloucester County! Whether you are looking for a great lunch, a haircut, or a veterinarian, you will find it here. Please contact us  with any updates or additions.

Testimonials

Read why Gloucester is the perfect place for your business.

Opportunity Zone
  1. Opportunity Zone

Gloucester County is one of the 212 sites that the U.S. Department of Treasury designated as Virginia's Qualified Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zone covers Gloucester Point up to Ordinary, Virginia as seen on the map to your left. For information on the opportunity zone in Gloucester County please click here.  

For general information on Opportunity Zones please click here.

Gloucester County Annual Report

  1. Gloucester County Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018
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