County-overseen EDA, Virginia Port Authority co-host economic development marketing event at Virginia Inland Port

At noon on February 23rd, regional and potential investment officials joined Warren County and Town of Front Royal officials, as well as County Economic Development Authority and Virginia Port Authority (VPA) representatives at the county’s Inland Port for a marketing overview of socio-economic and transportation advantages presented by Virginia’s two-pronged, six terminal, coastal and inland port system. As pointed out by Port Authority Chief Development and Public Affairs Officer Cathie Vick, those advantages were highlighted by the VPA network’s performance throughout the recent national and international supply chain crisis.

Representing the FR-WC EDA were EDA Executive Director Joe Petty, who introduced EDA Board Vice-Chairman Scott Jenkins and Board Secretary Jorie Martin. Martin and Jenkins presented an overview of what Warren County and Front Royal have to offer companies seeking relocation into what they view as an economic development hot spot right here in northwestern Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

A portion of the Virginia Inland Port, out of a meeting room back window. Below, EDA officials Jorie Martin and Scott Jenkins present the socioeconomic and location advantages of bringing businesses here. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Opening the Virginia Port Authority presentation was VPA Director of Development and Transportation Policy Chris Gullickson, who introduced Public Affairs Officer Vick’s overview of Virginia Port Authority operations. She noted that VPA was recently rated “the most efficient port in North America” and maintains its ranking of 23rd globally. Vick added some humor to her favorable comparison of VPA operations to those found on the west coast during the recent global supply chain crisis. – “Not in Virginia,” she noted of what she called “the Virginia model” of port reception and distribution operations during the supply chain crisis.

Virginia Port Authority officials Chris Gullickson and Cathie Vick highlight how the ‘Virginia model’ of port network operations beat the supply chain crisis of recent years. The final shot from PowerPoint highlights some destinations from Warren County’s Virginia Inland Port.

The early afternoon event was co-hosted by the now-County overseen Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA) and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA), the latter based from its Norfolk International Terminus. The “Open-Door Business Session” was scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. around a catered lunch break at 1 p.m., and post presentations networking opportunities at northern Warren County’s Virginia Inland Port (VIP), an overland trucking and rail distribution center on 161 acres that is part of the Virginia Port Authority operational network.

FR-WC EDA Executive Director Joe Petty introduced the proceedings speakers to an attentive crowd of municipal and business officials — further below, another perspective of the Inland Port from the meeting facility.

The Inland Port’s proximity to an intersection of Interstate highways and railroad lines facilitates the inland distribution of goods received internationally at VPA’s water terminals in the Tidewater Virginia area to the nation’s mid-east and northeast markets.

Watch the County EDA and VPA presentations illustrating why Warren County is a place to be for companies seeking a favorable location for their operations in this exclusive Royal Examiner video.