Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on October 5, 2026 that Virginia has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for its workforce training program in Area Development‘s 2026 Top States for Doing Business report. The recognition goes to the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, run by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), which was also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in the annual Business Facilities Rankings Report for the fourth consecutive year.
“Virginia is building the best workforce in America, and industry is taking notice,” said Governor Spanberger. “The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program gives businesses a powerful reason to choose the Commonwealth by delivering customized training that prepares Virginians to succeed from day one. This No. 1 ranking reflects our commitment to helping more Virginians step into good jobs and ensuring employers have the durable, skilled talent they need to grow.”
How Virginia Ranked
Area Development, an executive magazine covering corporate site selection since 1965, bases its 16th annual Top States for Doing Business report on a survey of expert consultants who advise companies on location decisions. The report evaluates workforce readiness, labor availability, business climate, and operating environment. Beyond its No. 1 workforce training ranking, Virginia placed No. 8 overall and earned recognition for its Innovation & Research Ecosystem (No. 5), Site Readiness Programs (No. 6), and Logistics & Transportation Infrastructure (No. 7).
“Workforce is one of the most important factors in any company’s location decision, and Virginia continues to distinguish itself nationally,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is a clear competitive advantage because it drives business growth by customizing talent solutions. This recognition reinforces that the Commonwealth is not only attracting investment, but also preparing Virginians for the jobs those investments create.”
Training Built Around Each Company
The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program was created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, with funding support from the Governor’s administration and the Virginia General Assembly. It accelerates facility startups and expansions by delivering recruitment and training services fully customized to a company’s products, processes, equipment, standards, and culture, at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies. Since launching in 2019, the program has supported more than 22,000 announced jobs across the Commonwealth.
“The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is one of the Commonwealth’s strongest economic development assets and a cornerstone of Virginia’s Top State for Talent strategy because it turns talent into a practical, customized business solution,” said VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi. “Our team works directly with companies to design recruitment and training strategies that reflect their operations, culture and long-term growth plans. Area Development’s recognition underscores the program’s impact and the value Virginia delivers to companies creating jobs across the Commonwealth.”
Supporting Life Sciences Manufacturing
Among the program’s recent projects is Merck‘s $3 billion expansion at its Elkton site, which will serve as the company’s Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Small Molecule Manufacturing and generate 500 jobs. In the past 12 months, the program has also begun work supporting major job-creating projects including Avio USA in Pittsylvania County, RINGANA in Roanoke, and Jabil in Prince George County.
