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 survey, including:
- NVC
- Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
- Arlington Chamber of Commerce
- Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
- Falls Church Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
- Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
- Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce
- Northern Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Prince William County Chamber of Commerce
From March 23-30, 2026, we received responses from over 210 CEOs, corporate executives, and business owners operating in Northern Virginia, who anonymously expressed concerns about various state and local issues affecting their businesses.
Survey results show a clear theme: more than half of respondents (77%) are most concerned about housing affordability and local and county tax regulations, with transportation a distant third (20%). When asked about legislation from the 2026 General Assembly session, the expansion of sales taxes to services stood out as the most troubling change.
At the same time, nearly half of the respondents feel that state legislators and policymakers in Richmond don’t fully understand how local businesses operate. That’s exactly why NVC is committed to advocating business-friendly policies on your behalf. We listen closely to local sentiment and use it to advocate for our members through our Legislative Agenda, a document rooted in the ideas laid out in the NOVA Roadmap. Among the four bold goals in the Roadmap, cultivating affordability for our workforce was identified as the one that would make the most positive impact on business growth.
“It’s no surprise that business sentiment is declining as our economy continues to be rattled by shifting federal and state policy signals. This quarter’s survey results serve as a wake-up call,” said NVC President & CEO Julie Coons. “When 66% of executives expect our economy to remain stagnant or even decline, and half of our leaders feel Richmond doesn’t understand how their businesses actually operate, we have a serious disconnect. Even when harmful proposals like the failed tax on services, wealth tax, and right-to-work repeal are defeated, the mere threat creates lingering uncertainty. To remain competitive by design, Governor Spanberger and General Assembly leadership must bridge this gap and prioritize a collaborative environment where employers feel heard. Otherwise, business leaders may simply choose to invest elsewhere.”
On Friday, April 10, NVC will host an exclusive Executive Member Forum (EMF), “A Candid Conversation on the Q1 Business Leader Survey Results” featuring a briefing from D.J. Jordan, Senior Vice President at Pinkston, who will walk through the report’s key findings and explain what they mean for our region’s business community. Please submit questions ahead of this EMF call using our special link. If you’re a C-suite executive interested in participating in any future EMF calls, please contact NVC’s Membership Team.
If you’re looking for your next networking opportunity to network with Northern Virginia business leaders who are eager to tackle the region’s greatest challenge, we encourage you to join our NOVA RISE event on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Valo Park Auditorium from 8:00 – 11:30 am. This inaugural summit will feature two panels of experts on topics related to Roadmap innovation initiatives: housing affordability and energy infrastructure. We’ll be capping NOVA RISE with a fireside chat featuring influential executives, followed by a private VIP Luncheon.
To view last year’s Business Leader Survey results, please visit our website.
