Great news for the Commonwealth and the Lynchburg Region: CNBC has ranked Virginia the No. 3 state for business in its 2026 "America's Top States for Business" study. It's a strong ranking that reinforces what those of us working in economic development across Virginia already know; this is a state built for companies to grow.

Why It Matters

CNBC's ranking isn't a popularity contest. The network evaluates all 50 states across 138 metrics spanning 10 categories, including infrastructure, workforce, cost of doing business, technology and innovation, and quality of life. Virginia landed in the top 10 in six of those ten categories and held onto its No. 2 spot nationally for infrastructure.

This isn't a one-year fluke, either. Virginia has placed in the top five of every CNBC ranking since 2018 and has claimed the No. 1 spot six separate times which is more than any other state in the country.

What's Driving the Ranking

Virginia has ramped up investment in "shovel-ready" sites, with the General Assembly recently adding $50 million to the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. A new Expedited Permitting Program is helping major projects move through the approval process faster. And on the talent side, the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program has been named the nation's top customized workforce training program for four years running. Creating a real differentiator for companies evaluating where to locate or expand.

Education matters here too: nearly 42% of Virginians hold a bachelor's degree or higher, making Virginia the most educated state in the South, according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).

What This Means for the Lynchburg Region

For businesses and site selectors weighing a move to Central Virginia, this ranking is more than a headline, it's a signal. State-level investment in infrastructure, permitting speed, and talent development directly strengthens what our region can offer companies considering Lynchburg. When Virginia wins nationally, our local pipeline of prospects benefits too.

The Lynchburg region already brings a lot to the table on its own. Our diverse economy spans food and beverage manufacturing, steel and metals, nuclear technology, wireless infrastructure, and financial and business services, anchored by major employers like BWXT, Abbott Nutrition, Framatome, L3Harris, Delta Star, and Georgia-Pacific. Regional businesses draw from a workforce of more than 126,000 employees, with an extended labor market topping 580,000 people across a region home to eight universities and a college-student population of over 20,000.

Costs matter as the region's housing costs run about 22% below the national average, and overall cost of living sits roughly 9% below the national average, all while offering strong rail, interstate, and air connectivity for companies that need to move goods and people efficiently.

As the Commonwealth continues to invest in sites, workforce, and streamlined permitting, we expect Virginia's competitiveness and the Lynchburg Region's to keep climbing.