Virginia’s Center for Advanced
Manufacturing & Research

The Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC) is a coalition of businesses dedicated to advancing Virginia’s fastest-growing region— from Danville to Martinsville to Roanoke and Blacksburg, and the counties throughout the corridor. The region is built on its rich history of manufacturing, which was battered by U.S. trade policy a generation ago.

Now, the region is back and stronger than ever, thanks to hard work, foresight, and a clear eye to the future. Today, the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor has reinvented itself as Virginia’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Research, attracting investment from around the world.  

Virginia’s largest megasite lands the biggest project Southside has ever seen, after years of trying

Cardinal News

November 13th, 2024

For Virginia to continue growing, the Commonwealth needs to diversify its economy beyond Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads.

The Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor is home to +710,000 people.

Global companies are investing and operating facilities in the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor.

Key economic trends, such as wage growth, now outpace the rest of Virginia. (Annual Average Wage Growth: 5.7% BRIC, 4.3% VA: 2023)

Accessibility in and out of the region is vital for the industrial sites and skilled workforce, but through public investment, the infrastructure upgrades can be made.

Over 3.1 million people live within a one day’s drive, propelling the region’s ability to support new jobs.


The U.S. Navy’s Advanced Training Defense Manufacturing program in Danville will soon be able to train even more students thanks to a new 100,000-square-foot facility that is breaking ground Wednesday. The groundbreaking coincides with the Institute of Advanced Learning and Research’s third ATDM summit.

The new facility, called the Regional Training Center, will train 800 to 1,000 students per year in accelerated four-month programs to help fill critical vacancies across the defense industry.
— Cardinal News, October 2023
New migration data shows an uptick of people moving into some rural areas
Most of Virginia is seeing more people move in than move out. It’s Northern Virginia that is driving the state’s overall out-migration....Most of rural Virginia is seeing more people move in than move out. Tht runs counter to a lot of what we think but it’s true
— Cardinal News, May 2023
Almost 20 industrial sites in Danville and Pittsylvania County are being upgraded to shovel-ready status, and these localities now have the highest number of developed industrial sites in the state, according to Virginia Economic Development Partnership qualifications.

“Southern Virginia leads the commonwealth in the number of prepared sites, one of the reasons for the success they are achieving in business attraction...this area of Virginia sees about a quarter of the state’s leads on economic development projects, said Linda Green, executive director of SVRA.
— Cardinal News, April 2023

Population Strength

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Virginia Tech

A Manufacturing Center Is Reborn

Virginia’s Top Building-Ready Industrial Sites

Easier Access to Drive Economic Development


We invite everyone who believes in this part of Virginia—no matter where you live or work—to be part of the coalition.