This week, NVC released its NOVA Roadmap Progress Report, outlining progress on its long-term economic strategy for Northern Virginia while highlighting ongoing pressures tied to affordability, workforce attraction and retention, and infrastructure capacity as the region continues to compete for investment, and as the Commonwealth seeks to regain its position as the best state for business. The report builds on …
Meet the 2026 NVC Annual Members’ Meeting Honorees
Each year, Northern Virginia’s business community comes together for a morning that helps set the direction for the year ahead. The NVC Annual Members’ Meeting is more than a signature event, it’s a meaningful opportunity to connect with peers, gain insight into what’s next for the region, and celebrate the strength of the NVC community. On Thursday, June 4, 2026, …
NVC Releases 2026 NOVA RISE Insights Report
How is sentiment from the inaugural NOVA RISE event transforming the NOVA Roadmap? NVC has released the 2026 NOVA RISE Key Takeaways & Insights Report, translating one of the region’s most important leadership convenings into a critical resource for business, government, and community stakeholders. This report captures the substance of the inaugural NOVA Roadmap Innovators and Stakeholders Exchange (NOVA RISE), …
How the 2026 General Assembly Will Change Northern Virginia Business
How are lessons from the 2026 session and the NOVA Roadmap shaping advocacy priorities for 2027? What happens during a General Assembly session has real consequences for Northern Virginia’s employers, workers, and communities. The 2026 session brought progress on key issues, setbacks on others, and important signals about what lies ahead. With more than 100 NOVA Roadmap bills tracked and …
NOVA RISE: Mobilizing the Roadmap for Northern Virginia’s Future
Last Thursday, NVC hosted our inaugural NOVA Roadmap Innovators & Stakeholders Exchange (NOVA RISE) event! Thank you to all the NVC members, sponsors, and speakers who took the time to attend this brand-new event — a milestone moment for our community. The energy at Valo Park was incredible, as regional executives, investors, and community leaders gathered to discuss the specific …
Northern Virginia Business Leaders Tackle Regional Affordability Issues
NVC is proud to gather regional business leaders tomorrow for our inaugural NOVA RISE event, hosting actionable conversations on housing affordability and energy infrastructure. In the Q1 Business Leader Survey, over 200 regional executives identified cultivating affordability for our workforce as the most critical pillar of the NOVA Roadmap. To address this priority, the inaugural NOVA Roadmap Innovators & Stakeholders …
Q1 Survey Shows Rising Pessimism Among Northern Virginia Business Leaders
Businesses recognize that the NOVA Roadmap is charting a path forward for Housing Affordability, a high-priority issue to hundreds of business leaders in Northern Virginia. Today, the Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC) and Pinkston announce the official results of the first installment of the 2026 Business Leader Survey. A coalition of Northern Virginia chambers partnered to help implement this year’s …
A Unified Vision for Housing Affordability: The NOVA Housing Supply Framework
NVC is aligning business and housing stakeholders around a shared strategy, marking a major step toward restoring regional economic competitiveness guided by the NOVA Roadmap at the helm. Northern Virginia’s competitiveness depends on its ability to attract and retain talent — and housing is at the heart of that equation. Recognizing this, NVC has joined forces with the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) and the Northern Virginia Building …
NVC Welcomes New Investor Relations Manager, Jocelyn Park
Learn more about the newest addition to NVC’s professional staff, Jocelyn Park. She is the new go-to contact for sponsorship, advertising, and investor relations. NVC is thrilled to welcome Jocelyn Park as our new Investor Relations Manager, ensuring that NVC’s professional team successfully executes the deliverables for NOVA Roadmap Investors, partners, and sponsors, while fostering long-term collaboration across the region’s …
What is NOVA RISE? Learn More About this Inaugural NVC Program
An Overview of NOVA RISE NVC is hosting the inaugural NOVA Roadmap Innovators & Stakeholders Exchange (NOVA RISE) program on Thursday, April 16, 2026. NOVA RISE is designed to unite business leaders and investors with the innovators shaping the future of our regional economy to discuss topics closely aligned with the NOVA Roadmap. NVC will be addressing pressing regional challenges …
8(a) certification and the Potential for Success
The SBA developed the 8(a) program to level the playing field in federal contracting to offer minority and disadvantaged business owners access to contract opportunities formerly only available to bigger entities. But given this knowledge, did you know that there is a stipulation within the 8(a) certification process that requires you to prove your potential for success in order …
Lobby Day & Viva Virginia 2026: Connecting Members with Virginia Policymakers
Since 2013, NVC has hosted Lobby Day in Richmond, Virginia, creating a vital bridge between NVC members and state policymakers. This annual event brings members directly into the heart of the legislative process during the General Assembly session, providing an exclusive opportunity for meaningful dialogue, clarity, and influence. Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Time: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Ticket …
NOVABIZPAC Endorses 3 Incumbents
Last week, the Northern Virginia Business Political Action Committee (NOVABIZPAC), the political arm of NVC, conducted in-depth interviews with candidates in three of Virginia’s most competitive races. Over the course of two days, NOVABIZPAC Trustees interviewed a total of six candidates, five on the first day and one on the second. After a rigorous review and discussion, NOVABIZPAC Trustees voted …
A Century of Driving Northern Virginia’s Transportation & Infrastructure Forward
For a century, NVC has been the trusted voice for business, and nowhere is that legacy more evident than in its lasting impact on transportation and infrastructure across the region. Since the 1920s, NVC has championed investments that connect communities, fuel economic growth, and make Northern Virginia a premier place to live, work, and play. From the earliest days of …
Impact and Innovation: NVC Members Shaping the Future of Government Contracting
As November begins and we look toward 2025, NVC is focused on strengthening our advocacy and support for the vibrant business community we serve. In the rapidly changing world of government contracting, NVC members lead the way in advancing innovation and economic growth. With the prestigious Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards® tomorrow, we are thrilled to honor our members’ remarkable …
Concluding NVC’s Policy Committee Meetings for 2024 and Shaping Our Vision for 2025
Last Friday, on October 18th, NVC concluded its final Policy Committee meeting for 2024. This meeting marked a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing commitment to addressing pressing Regional issues. The focus of this gathering centered on two critical topics: Affordable Housing and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Prior gatherings, which began on September 18th, explored various themes, including education …
At the Midway Point: 2024 General Assembly Update
Our Region’s future growth and economic stability are top discussion points during this year’s Virginia General Assembly, which began January 7th and will run through March 9th in Richmond. Currently in Week 6, the General Assembly has seen its share of highs and lows, with critical bills centering around taxes, education, and workforce issues. The Chamber’s Vice President of Government …
Chamber Statement on Metro, July 5, 2023
The transit system survived the past three years using nearly $2.4 billion in federal aid, staving off severe cuts and recently returning to pre-pandemic service levels. But with aid running out by July 2024, Metro leaders have undertaken a desperate search for sustainable funding to fill a financial hole projected to grow annually to as much as $1.2 billion later …
Bipartisanship: Working Together to Build a Better Virginia
The Chamber recently spoke with Larry Roberts, Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, who offered the following thoughts on the benefits of bipartisanship to Virginia government and its business community. The Sorensen Institute and the Chamber have formed an Advancing Civics partnership to promote bipartisanship and civil discourse as means toward effective public leadership. …
2023 Virginia General Assembly Workforce Update
The 2023 Virginia General Assembly wrapped up on February 25th in Richmond. The Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations, Nick Clemente, was in attendance all 46 days (and then some!), advocating on behalf of our Region and Chamber membership. Chamber members were kept up-to-date throughout the session through Nick’s weekly emails and member advocacy calls. He was also always a …
Kicking Off the 2023 Virginia General Assembly
Editor’s Note: The Virginia General Assembly kicks off its annual legislative session this week lasting for 46 days. Staying connected to legislators and policymakers is critical for the Northern Virginia business community to ensure that we have a voice in the legislative process. The Chamber’s Nick Clemente, Vice President of Government relations is representing the Northern Virginia business community every …
8 Strategies to Build the Capital Region’s Digital Talent Pipeline
Digital talent is essential to competitiveness and growth, but our Capital Region continues to face a critical shortage. It is estimated that ~60% of Capital Region tech and tech-adjacent positions will be unfilled by 2025, leaving our region with a serious workforce issue. What is digital talent? Digital talent is the human capital needed to accelerate and deliver on an …
From a tight labor market to telework: results from the 2022 NOVA Workforce Index
Workforce issues continue to dominate our region’s business discussions this year as leaders face frustrating employee recruiting, retention, and remote work challenges. Working on behalf of our members, your Chamber has made sourcing solutions to these workforce issues a priority. As part of this effort, we’ve developed a broad range of member tools that include the Northern Virginia Workforce Index, …
A New Year Message From Our CEO: The Chamber in 2023… And Beyond
By Julie Coons, CAE, Northern Virginia Chamber President and CEO Happy New Year! 2023 is a year of exciting activity and opportunity for our region. This year, the Chamber’s 98th year, we see more businesses coming together to advocate for regional growth, to invest and grow a business-directed skilled workforce, and to advance policies and practices that accelerate a business …
MEMBER VOICES: We asked member CEOs, “What are the greatest challenges CEOs face heading into the new year?”
Member Voices is a monthly feature where we ask C-Suite leaders from within our Chamber membership to share their insights on key business topics. If you would like to participate in Member Voices, please contact Carmen Sevilla at csevilla@novachamber.org. Shyam Salona, CEO, REI Systems, Inc. “This year we experienced a significant shift in the way we work. The hybrid work …
Supporting Our Veterans: A Q&A With Our DSA Service Finalists
If there’s a truism that flows through both business and life, it’s that, at some stage, we will all need support and guidance from others to help us achieve our goals. While we all face obstacles in our daily lives, our nation’s veterans often find themselves overcoming significant challenges as they transition from the military to the civilian world. We …
Hire a Vet. You Can’t Go Wrong. Advice on Helping Veterans Find Success Within the Business World
“Veterans are special people. Duty, honor, integrity and loyalty are their hallmarks and they bring to each role a sense of leadership and responsibility. Within the business world they exemplify the best of what we want in employees. I tell everyone that when they give veterans a chance, they can’t go wrong.” So says W. Glenn Yarborough, Jr, a Colonel …
Member Blog Post: Let’s Talk Leadership: Tackling a Challenging Workplace Statistic
According to recent Gallup research on employee engagement, only 36% of U.S. employees are engaged in their work and workplace. Gallup tracks employee engagement trends by surveying the working population about issues that affect organizational outcomes, including profitability, productivity, customer service, retention, safety and overall wellbeing. Research reflects that disengaged employees tend to be poorly managed. It is incumbent on organizational …
On the Heels of the Pandemic: Inflation-Induced Hunger
After two years of struggling through pandemic-related woes, our workforce now finds itself battling with a new daily challenge in inflation. And while the side effect of rising prices and the Fed’s defensive response to raise interest rates are presented in the news as threats to our housing market and daily coffee purchases, those living closer to the bone within …
Navigating pandemic-era resume gaps: asking the right questions to build the best team
For more than 50 years, a year-long resume gap was a clear red mark against a job applicant. Except for stay-at-home parents or applicants who went back to school, there really wasn’t much sympathy from an employer, even in recessions. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that. One or two years out of work is the temporary new normal as …
Poll Results: Is Northern Virginia ready for a 4-day workweek?
Last week we shared information about two pending Bills, one Federal and one State, seeking to reduce the workweek to 32 hours and asked you to answer our poll, “is Virginia is ready for a 4-day workweek?” The results are in with 63.73% answering Yes, 30.39% answering No, and 5.88% answering Maybe. In addition, many people wrote comments, both for …
