For Alfreda Jarrett Reynolds, having Brunswick County join Virginia’s Gateway Region made sense, both naturally and strategically. As the county’s director of economic development, Reynolds is steering Brunswick into its next era of growth and connectivity.
“We were already gearing our marketing campaign to the north,” Reynolds said. “So it was a very natural transition. This just makes sense for Brunswick County.”
Reynolds is no stranger to regional collaboration. As a member of the GO Virginia Region 3 Council, she has long understood the power of partnerships. For a small, rural community like Brunswick County – divided by I-85 and sitting on the North Carolina border – regional alignment can mean the difference between being considered or overlooked.
“We’re excited to be part of a bigger networking and marketing group, one that we can share in access to capital resources, business attraction, job creation and talent,” she said. “We’re excited because Brunswick County is a location of choice, a gold standard in business, leisure, family and education.”
That confidence is backed by data and momentum. Under Reynolds’ leadership, Brunswick has attracted more than 20 new businesses in the last five years – no small feat for a locality with a single stoplight (but served by two airports). That growth also comes with a targeted vision. Reynolds is focused on ensuring Brunswick carves out its own niche and builds on existing strengths, while preparing for the industries of the future.
“We’re number one in timber harvesting in the state of Virginia,” she said. “So we’re marketing toward that – agriculture, timber, forestry products – while stretching ourselves to remain relevant in current market trends.”
One example is unmanned systems. Using federal funding, Brunswick repurposed an underused airport into a hybrid space for emergency triage and drone training. The county has since hosted high-stakes testing for companies like Virginia Beach-based DroneUp and Sentinel Robotic Solutions from Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore. One simulation, conducted in partnership with NATO, helped develop drone-based resupply strategies now being used in Ukraine.
“We’re doing all this to get our name out there,” said Reynolds, who also has been active in organizations such as the Metropolitan Business League to promote Brunswick County opportunities. “We want to be seen as a valuable partner.”
That same spirit of partnership extends to the region’s largest employers. While Microsoft’s global data center footprint is centered in neighboring Mecklenburg County, Brunswick has secured training programs and job pipelines through Southside Virginia Community College and is in the early stages of attracting data center development of its own.
But amid all the talk of drones, data centers and industrial strategy, Reynolds never loses sight of what makes Brunswick special: its people, culture and, yes, its stew.
“There’s no debate. Brunswick County, Virginia, is the original home of Brunswick Stew,” she said. “We actually won in the Supreme Court against Brunswick, Georgia. The fourth Wednesday in January is officially Virginia Brunswick Stew Day. And the winner of our annual festival cook-off gets to serve the governor and the General Assembly.”
That mix of heritage and hustle is what defines Reynolds’ approach. Whether she’s securing infrastructure improvements, recruiting new businesses or checking in on a local café that she inspired a colleague to open, her mission is clear: to make Brunswick known, relevant and thriving.
“You’ll never be an option if people don’t know you exist,” she said. “So we’re out there. We’re building bridges. And we’re open for business.”