Franklin

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Hampton Roads Alliance

Today is World Tourism Day! 🌎 Tourism is a huge economic driver for Hampton Roads. From the beautiful, sandy shores of Virginia Beach to the centuries of culture that define the Historical Triangle, Hampton Roads is a great place to explore, and there are countless ways to appreciate the beauty of the region. Today, we thank everyone who plays a part in improving our region's quality of life, allowing the tourism industry to flourish. What is your favorite local attraction or site to visit? Tell us in the comments below!

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Hampton Roads Alliance4 days ago

Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin announced today that Alliance Investor Amazon.com will build two world-class facilities and create more than 1,000 new jobs in the City of Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach City Government)! Alliance President and CEO Douglas L. Smith stated “In the past few years, Amazon has truly embraced the Hampton Roads community, opening facilities in multiple locations and quickly becoming one of the region’s major employers. Today’s announcement marks yet another milestone in Amazon’s investment in and dedication to Hampton Roads. The Alliance congratulates Amazon, along with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development on their continued success and thanks them for their commitment to growing the Hampton Roads economy.” Learn more: https://www.vedp.org/press-release/2023-09/amazon-virginiabeach

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Hampton Roads Alliance1 week ago

Hampton Roads Workforce Council hosted their exciting Workforce Innovation Awards last evening at Rivers Casino Portsmouth! 👏 Congratulations to all the winners including Michael Paris, Bureau Manager for Norfolk Economic Development, for being named 2023 Workforce Champion of the Year!

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Franklin, VA

Franklin is a thriving city found in the southwest of the Hampton Roads region. With exceptional transportation corridors to the Port of Virginia, a Regional Workforce Development Center, ample real estate zoned for commercial use, a passion for start up business growth and an affordable quality of life, the City of Franklin is an ideal location for investment opportunity.

Industry Highlights

Franklin is well-positioned for industrial growth due to the acreage available at Pretlow Industrial Park. It is publicly owned and located directly off Highway 58. The property is zoned M-2 Heavy Industrial, located in an Enterprise Zone, has a 500,000 gallon water tower on site and the option for natural gas to be extended to the park.

The Franklin Business Center is another key proponent for local business success. The building is a 40,000 square foot restored mixed-use incubator serving startups and expanding businesses. The Business Center has office space, support staff and many programs available. It also provides hands-on management assistance, access to equipment, and exposure to critical business and technical support services all under one roof.

Quality of Life

In Franklin, you can enjoy a community where small town amenities abound, including Camp Community College, Southampton Memorial Hospital, Cypress Cove Country Club, Blackwater Regional Library and James L. Camp YMCA as well as many public parks, and the scenic Blackwater river. Franklin is also home to the Historic Downtown Franklin district that carries the only ‘Virginia Main Street’ designation in the Hampton Roads region. This district is home to many unique retail options, a quaint coffee shop, and various eateries.

Data

Industry Employment Breakdown

Industry	# of Employees	% of Workforce
Health Care and Social Assistance	1,149	59.17%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	293	15.09%
Finance and Insurance	160	8.24%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	108	5.56%
Wholesale Trade	70	3.60%

Source: EMSI

Demographics

Population	7,949
Median Age	41.5
Labor Force	26,874
Unemployment Rate	2.9%
Median Household Income	2.9%

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2019; Esri Business Analyst Online, 2024 Forecast; Esri Business Analyst Online 2019 Detailed Age Profile; Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), 2019 Forecast

Key Companies

Birdsong Peanuts

Enviva

Hampton Farms

Paul D. Camp community College

Southampton Memorial Hospital

Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc.

Mr. Karl T. Heck, President and CEO
(P) 757-516-7709
kheck@franklinsouthamptonva.com
www.fsediva.com

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Hampton Roads Alliance
3 Commercial Place, Suite 1320
Norfolk, VA 23510
P: (757) 627-2315
F: (757) 623-3081