Some 245 years ago, Petersburg played a small-but-pivotal role in shaping America’s future.
In April 1781, American militia held the line against British troops led by Benedict Arnold during the Battle of Petersburg – buying time that would help lead to the decisive victory at Yorktown later that year.
On Thursday evening, that same spirit of determination and possibility echoed inside the Petersburg Public Library as leaders from across Virginia’s Gateway Region gathered for the organization’s Annual Meeting.
For VGR President and CEO Keith Boswell, the setting carried meaning.
“The library represents what this community has always believed in: learning, imagination and the courage to write new chapters,” Boswell told the crowd of investors, elected officials, business leaders and community partners.
“This evening is about the next chapter of our region.”
That message comes as the nation is approaching its milestone 250th anniversary of independence. That upcoming celebration offers an opportunity not just to look back at history, but to think intentionally about the future.
“America was made in Virginia,” Boswell said. “And anniversaries like this remind us that progress happens when people believe in the power of place and invest in it.”
A Region with Momentum
Boswell pointed to growing energy across the Gateway Region – from Petersburg’s resurgence to new investment and development across surrounding counties.
“You can feel the momentum,” Boswell said. “You … can see it in the investments across our counties and hear it in conversations with companies looking for a place to build and thrive.”
Strategically positioned along the East Coast, the region benefits from direct access to Interstates 95 and 85, Routes 460 and 58, rail lines and the Port of Virginia. It also offers development-ready land and workforce pipelines supported by regional education and training partners.
“Over the past year, Virginia’s Gateway Region has proven something we’ve known for a long time: This region is not defined by its challenges,’ he said. “It is defined by its potential.”
The region previously might have been overlooked by outsiders, but that perception is changing. “This region is no longer a best-kept secret,” Boswell added. “It’s becoming a best bet.”
A Strategic Focus for Growth
Weaving in the region’s history, innovative and resilience into his remarks, Boswell highlighted VGR’s new five-year strategic plan, approved by its board in late 2025.
While the organization will continue to focus broadly on business growth, partnerships and innovation, the updated plan narrows its attention to six industries where the region has particular strength and opportunity.
Advanced manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the regional economy, with a cross-section of subindustries operating locally. Manufacturing has defined the region for centuries – from canal-powered mills along the James and Appomattox rivers to today’s modern production facilities. That couples with logistics and distribution, an industry closely tied to VGR’s geography that positions it as a major East Coast hub. “This region has been making things and moving things for a long time,” he said.
The strategic plan also emphasizes emerging opportunities in future technology, including data centers, artificial intelligence and controlled-environment agriculture – industries that rely on reliable power, connectivity and land. Tied to that is energy infrastructure, particularly as new technologies and projects such as the Dominion Locks campus in Dinwiddie open growth opportunities in the regional energy supply chain.
Two additional focus areas highlight both the region’s heritage and its evolving economy. The wood products industry – from barrel-marking in the 1700s to today’s sustainable forestry – has long been central to counties such as Brunswick and Sussex. He further noted that cold storage facilities support food and pharmaceutical distribution networks.
“These sectors reflect who we are and what we do well,” he said.
Throughout his remarks, Boswell emphasized that economic development depends on collaboration. That alignment among local governments, investors and regional partners is often what companies notice first when evaluating potential locations.
“No single organization or locality can do it alone,” he said. “But when we work together – when we combine our assets and speak with one voice – we become powerful.”
A Call to Shape the Next Chapter
As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Boswell urged those in the room to remain engaged in shaping the region’s future.
Economic development is not a spectator sport. “Stay invested. Stay engaged. Stay vocal about the strengths of this region,” he said.
Virginia’s Gateway Region has the assets and the momentum to compete for the next generation of investment and jobs.
“We have the land. We have the transportation network. And most importantly, we have the people,” Boswell said. “And together, we’re ready to write the next chapter.”