Virginia’s climb to number three in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings comes at a time when Northern Virginia business leaders are expressing renewed optimism about the regional economy.
Our spot in CNBC’s ranking reflects many of the competitive advantages outlined in the NOVA Roadmap. Virginia ranked among the nation’s Top 10 states in Infrastructure (No. 2), Education (No. 5), Technology & Innovation (No. 6), Quality of Life (No. 7), Workforce (No. 10), and Access to Capital (No. 10).
“Northern Virginia remains the economic engine of the Commonwealth, powered by innovative businesses, a world-class workforce, and the infrastructure needed to compete in a rapidly changing economy,” said NVC President & CEO Julie Coons. “Virginia’s rise to number 3 demonstrates that our economic fundamentals remain strong, even amid significant federal policy changes and disruptions that have affected employers and employees across the region.”
The ranking aligns closely with findings from the newly released 2026 Q2 Business Leader Survey, in partnership with Pinkston, which shows an improvement in confidence among Northern Virginia executives. 40% of business leaders expect the regional economy to grow over the next six months, the highest it’s been since the third quarter of 2025. At the same time, only 6% anticipate employee layoffs, the lowest level recorded since the survey began tracking the metric.
The survey also revealed strengthening confidence in individual business performance. More than three-quarters of respondents, 76%, said they are optimistic about their company’s outlook, an increase from 67% in the first quarter. Staffing expectations remain positive, with 90% of business leaders planning to maintain or increase hiring levels.
According to Coons, the Commonwealth’s success is built on two defining strengths. “When you look at what sets Virginia apart, I’d argue that it’s our two superpowers: talent and infrastructure,” she said. “Virginia continues to educate, attract, and retain some of the nation’s best and brightest talent. In today’s economy, talent is often the deciding factor in where companies choose to invest, expand, and create jobs.”
She added that Virginia’s infrastructure advantage provides businesses with the certainty needed to achieve their objectives and has helped create an environment that few states can match.
While economic confidence is improving, business leaders continue to emphasize the importance of public policy. Survey respondents identified reducing taxes, maintaining Virginia’s right-to-work status, housing affordability, reducing regulation, and transportation and infrastructure investments among their top priorities for state leaders.
Notably, perceptions of policymaker understanding of business operations also improved during the second quarter. 17% percent of respondents said state legislators and policymakers understand their local business operations well or very well, up from 10% in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the share of leaders who said policymakers do not understand business operations declined from 50% to 44%.
Those gains reflect NVC’s ongoing efforts to bring business and government leaders together through initiatives such as Executive Councils, Policy Labs, and the NOVA Roadmap.
“Northern Virginia’s business leaders tell us they are eager to be part of policy conversations that help shape solutions,” said Coons. “By facilitating these conversations through our Executive Councils and new Policy Labs, NVC is helping to strengthen relationships between policymakers and the business community, which is critical to advancing the NOVA Roadmap’s recommendations and ensuring a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”
Together, the CNBC rankings and the latest business sentiment data paint a picture of a Commonwealth that remains highly competitive while benefiting from growing confidence among employers. For NVC, the results show the importance of continuing to invest in the priorities identified through the NOVA Roadmap, including workforce development, infrastructure, affordability, and regulatory efficiency.
“The question isn’t whether Virginia is competitive today,” Coons said. “It’s how we ensure we’re even more competitive five, ten, and twenty years from now. The NOVA Roadmap serves as a North Star for strengthening the advantages that make Virginia successful while addressing the challenges that could limit further growth. That is how we get Virginia back to the number 1 position in the rankings.”
NVC will continue to bridge the gap between our business community and policymakers, while pushing for pro-business legislation that supports the Roadmap’s four bold goals. If you or your organization want to get involved in this initiative, contact NVC Senior Vice President of Member Engagement Jared Sloane.
