Danville-Virginia-Economic-Resurgence Vandola Crescent Our Community

Danville Virginia Economic Resurgence

In case you haven’t heard, Danville is in the middle of an economic resurgence, offering great opportunities for residents, workers and investors. Thousands of new jobs are flowing into Southern Virginia as Caesars Casino prepares to open its permanent resort before this year is out and varied industries move into the region or expand. Meanwhile, local economic developers are working on a 3,500-acre Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill that could employ as many as 8,500 people. Since 2015, companies have invested more than $1.55 billion in the Danville region, including Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, bringing more than 4,800 jobs to an area still regaining its economic footing following the shuttering of textile, apparel and furniture factories in recent decades. Danville, Virginia is definitely experiencing an economic resurgence in 2024 and has huge potential for growth in the future.

Danville’s Population and Potential for Business

When considering locations, companies look at the population and available labor force within a 45- to 60-mile radius. According to 2022 U.S. Census figures, just over 136,000 people live in the Danville region, including Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, including nearly 74,000 between ages 20 and 65, but about 1.2 million people reside within 45 to 65 miles. That includes Lynchburg and Roanoke, as well as the North Carolina metropolitan areas of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point. Combined, those areas have a labor shed of more than 540,000 potential workers.

About 30% of workers drive into the region, while approximately 13,000 Danville and Pittsylvania residents commute outside the area for job opportunities, says Corrie Bobe, Danville’s economic development director. “That’s a great market for new and existing industries to target. If people have the opportunity to remain here and not have to drive distances for quality jobs, they would prefer to do so.”

Education For Future Workforce In Danville

The population outflow includes residents who gained skills through local workforce training programs. Over the past decade, Danville and Pittsylvania County have allocated more than $70 million to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers. Danville offers many local educational institutions, including Danville Community College, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and middle and high schools where IALR’s GO TEC (Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers) program introduces students to the possibilities of careers in manufacturing. “Companies have been blown away by the large number of skilled [workers] that are training and have been trained here,” she says. Established two decades ago to diversify Southern Virginia’s economy, IALR provides training in skills such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, automotive manufacturing and cybersecurity. Last fall, IALR opened its $28.8 million Center for Manufacturing Advancement, which provides new or expanding companies space to collaborate and integrate emerging and new technologies. The U.S. Navy also opened its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at IALR to expand the military’s industrial base and provide defense contractors with workers trained in additive manufacturing. In addition, IALR hosts the Department of Defense’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing, a four-month program that trains workers from throughout the U.S. for jobs in the defense industry. About 800 to 1,000 workers are expected to complete the program by 2025. Danville Virginia seems to be in a great position to provide a workforce to build the future local workforce.

Population Increase

U.S. Census figures show the Danville region’s population declined by 9% between 2000 and 2021, with the prime working age group between 20 and 50 dropping by 27%. However, between 2020 and 2022, Danville saw a substantial increase. It has been said that this population increase has occurred due to more available employment offering highly competitive wages.

Caesars Casino

Caesars Virginia expects to hire employees for its $650 million permanent resort hotel and casino, expected to open in late 2024. The multimillion-dollar resort casino opened a temporary facility this spring with about 400 workers; casino management plans to have about 1,300 employees onboard when the permanent casino opens. Current Danville businesses look forward to the casino bringing further development and residents to the area.

Danville’s Revitalization

About $50 million in public funds and $355 million in private monies have been invested in revitalizing Danville’s River District as a catalyst for attracting people back to the city. The projected growth is driving up demand for single and multifamily homes. Regional and national developers got a firsthand look at residential development opportunities during the Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit.

Danville has recently shown improvements in schools, health care and housing. Quality of life and cost of living are Southern Virginia’s main selling points. There’s tremendous value in being a resident of this region. Danville offers a lower cost of living, less traffic congestion and access to several popular metro areas within an hour.

Some of Danville’s Top Employers

Tyson Foods: A world-class food company with a broad portfolio of brands 

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company: A major manufacturer in the region 

Nestlé USA: A major corporation in Danville 

Essel Propak: A major corporation in Danville 

IKEA: Has its only North American manufacturing facility in the region 

Hanesbrands, Inc. A major employer in the region 

Also, well known national employers Target, McDonald’s, The Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Amazon, UPS, US Army, and PepsiCo are top employers in Danville. The region offers a very diverse industry base, including advanced manufacturing, environmental and life sciences companies, and IT and professional services.

Major Danville Attractions

While auto racing is the region’s top draw, other attractions include the Virginia Museum of Natural History, with dinosaur and prehistoric whale fossils; the AAF Tank Museum, which has more than 120 armored tanks and artillery pieces on exhibit; Danville Science Center; and the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. Danville’s downtown River District features bars, restaurants, shopping and boutique hotel The Bee. For those who like to get outdoors, hike the scenic Riverwalk Trail or go kayaking, rafting and tubing on the Dan River. Danville is quickly becoming a hotbed of culture in southern Virginia. We play host to music fans, art enthusiasts, theater buffs, and cinema-goers of all ages. Be it the Carrington Pavilion summer concert series, the Danville Symphony Orchestra, an art series at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts, or a theater production for children, Danville can fill all your cultural needs.

Vandola Crescent Community

Blackstone Building Group in a partnership with Longevity Home Solutions is currently offering  affordable housing opportunities for Danville’s workforce and retirees seeking quality built, low-maintenance living in their home town. These opportunities are attractive to not only to homebuyers throughout Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic areas, but also midwestern, northern, northeastern United States.

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