The City of Portsmouth offers a modernized historical downtown full of walkable businesses, as well as cultural and recreational entertainment options. The dynamic neighborhoods and business districts offer residents and professionals access and options quickly while remaining central to the 757.

The City’s landscape is surrounded by water and has attracted the industrial maritime industry and related trades for three centuries. Economic development tools like the state-designated Enterprise Zone program and locally-funded incentives attract new businesses to Portsmouth, as well as encourage the growth of existing industries.

Portsmouth offers a diverse landscape of highly skilled and well-educated workforce and a robust infrastructure that includes two of the Port of Virginia terminals - Portsmouth Marine Terminals (PMT) and the Virginia International Gateway (VIG). Home to the The U.S. Navy’s oldest and largest industrial facility – the Norfolk Naval Shipyard – the City is proud to host many private-sector business opportunities in ship repair, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and more. A growing hub in modeling & simulation, Portsmouth offers a high concentration of technical expertise unique to the region and the country.

As the home to two large Port of Virginia terminals, Portsmouth is a strong partner for maritime and logistic businesses and ancillary companies that support supply chain work. The intermodal infrastructure that is built into the history of Portsmouth lends itself naturally to assist manufacturers of all kinds in building successful business in the City, from small-scale stamping to large scale work. Information services like call centers or IT hubs such as data centers will find themselves at home in Portsmouth with the diverse workforce and skilled talent bringing technical skills to the city. Modeling, simulation, and technology has taken off with organizations leading the national charge in unmanned systems and first responder training, and specialty retail is growing across all business districts.

Portsmouth offers a diverse transportation infrastructure to connect residents, professionals, and business to the larger 757. As a smart city, Portsmouth focuses on providing forward-thinking amenities offering rich history and culture and dynamic business districts and neighborhoods. The city features robust festival calendars, immersive museums, and art experiences throughout the year.

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