Major Employers

Top Employers, Gateway Region Communities
Employer | Product or Service | ESTIMATED Employees |
---|---|---|
Fort Lee | Army logistics and culinary training | 23,000 |
Dominion Resources | Electric utility (incl. HQ in Richmond) | 5,400 |
Amazon.com | E-commerce fulfillment | 1,000+ |
Bon Secours | Healthcare | 1,000+ |
Wal Mart | Retail, distribution center | 1,000+ |
Virginia State University | Higher education | 1,000+ |
AdvanSix | Chemicals, fibers, and R&D center | 500-999 |
Delhaize America | Food Lion distribution center | 600-1250 |
HCA Virginia Health System | Healthcare | 500-999 |
Food Lion | Grocery | 300-650 |
Perdue Foods | Poultry products (distribution) | 250-500 |
Alliance Group Rock (WestRock) | Paperboard | 250-500 |
Evonik Industries | Chemicals for skin & hair products, R&D | 250-500 |
Chaparral | Metal manufacturing | 250-500 |
Service Center Metals | Metal manufacturing | 250-500 |
Amsted Rail Company | Ball & roller bearings | 250-500 |
Standards Motor Products | Distribution Center | 250-500 |
Humana Insurance Company | Insurance | 250-500 |
ConnectRN | Healthcare | 250-500 |
Sevita (The Mentor Network) | In-home healthcare | 250-500 |
Civica Rx | Pharmaceutical manufacturing | 100-250 |
Carrolls Foods | Animal production | 100-250 |
Hillphoenix | Refrigerated casings | 100-250 |
Ampac Fine Chemicals | Pharmaceutical manufacuring | 100-250 |
Aqualon | Chemical manufacturing | 100-250 |
Davis Travel Center | Gas station/convenience store | 150-350 |
Military Expertise
The region is home to Fort Lee and Fort Barfoot (formerly Fort Pickett), major training facilities for branches of the military and commercial security; the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, the Department of Defense's primary contracting and logistics organization for aviation; and numerous defense sector consultants that take advantage of the strategic location central to federal and naval resources. The combination of unique local training and proximity to top-level U.S. military activity and decision-making adds tremendous value to local employers in terms of skills, experience and discipline in the workforce. Most veterans who finish their service in the area choose to start a business or second career locally to enjoy the affordable cost of living, great schools and excellent housing that they and their families became accustomed to during their stay. Fort Lee: The center of military activity in Central Virginia, Fort Lee has consistently been a Department of Defense priority in recent budget and resource realignments, enabling it to grow its economic and expertise contributions to the region. Each military base specializes in particular training, with Fort Lee preparing its personnel for careers in logistics, machinery operation and repair, and food manufacturing and preparation. The Army Logistics University: Establishes Fort Lee as the army’s logistics capital of the world through its training of military and civilian leaders at three colleges and an academy, including a new state-of-the-art learning center Quartermaster School: Trains soldiers and develops doctrine for quartermaster skills and functions including general supply, mortuary, subsistence, water, energy, field services and distribution management Ordnance School: Trains soldiers and civilians in technical skills and leadership to provide effective support for maintenance, munitions and explosive ordnance functions for the Army Transportation School: Provides the capability to rapidly distribute and deploy forces, equipment and materials Joint Culinary School: Trains soldiers to manage all aspects of food systems including: food planning, menus, nutrition, rations, regulations, procedures, safety and dining facility design. The school has even gained notoriety among the Food Network fan base by holding the largest annual American culinary competition Garrisons: The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps maintain detachments at the postTop Military-Trained Occupations in the Region
Top Military-Trained Occupations in the Region- Stock Clerks & Order Fillers
- Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Logisticians
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, Blasters
- Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
- Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- 29,910 total supported on-post population (23,268 military + 7,974 civilian/contractor personnel + 6,642 dependents)
- 10,924 average daily military students and trainees (on-post)
- 67,816 off-post population
Source: home.army.mil/lee/about as of September, 2023
Fort Barfoot
Located just west of the region, the Virginia Army National Guard Installation contains over 42,000 acres of training grounds for maneuvers. Non-military organizations using the installation include the U.S. Marshals, the FBI and Virginia State Police. Blackstone Army Airfield is also open for public use as Allen C. Perkinson Airport.Defense Logistics Agency: Aviation
Also known as the Defense Supply Center Richmond, the Defense Logistics Agency supports and supplies over 1,300 major weapon systems, 1.3 million repair parts and other supply items for the U.S. armed forces’ aviation equipment. The installation is 600 acres, with 120 buildings and more than 7 million square feet of storage space. In addition to its primary distribution depot activities, other tenant activities at the installation include:- Research & Resource Analysis: Analytical research capacity for decision making in supply, distribution, procurement and other disciplines
- Distribution Mapping: Physical distribution of all maps, charts and geodetic material for the Department of Defense and military customers
- Disposition: Disposing of excess military property by transfer to entities, surplus sales or other means
- Document Services: Printing, duplication, conversion and distribution of digital documents