Isle of Wight County

What Isle of Wight County does

Isle of Wight County is a local-government entity in southeastern Virginia within the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, operating an Economic Development Department (a 1–10 person function within the county government) that facilitates business attraction, retention, and expansion. The department serves prospective and existing businesses by coordinating site selection, permitting through a Central Permitting Division, administration of local and state incentive programs (Virginia Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone #20, Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund, Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund, port magnet-site tax credits), and small-business support via partners such as the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center. The county's flagship economic-development asset is the 1,200-acre Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park, a three-phase county-owned industrial park with Foreign Trade Zone #20 and Virginia Enterprise Zone designation, rail access via Norfolk Southern's Heartland Corridor and CSX, and 26-mile proximity to the Port of Virginia.

The underlying "platform" is the insidetheisle.com website, a CMS-based portal that delivers business resources, an available-properties search, demographics and labor-shed data, mapping, a business directory, and the monthly "Inside the Isle" newsletter (1,000+ subscribers). Supporting channels include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, press releases, the "Behind the Biz" video series, and the "Isle Biz Rocks" small-business spotlight program. The department does not sell products or services; instead, it is funded through county tax revenues and supplemented by state-level grants (e.g., $2.5M+ in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grants announced in 2025). The county's economic base spans food manufacturing (Smithfield Foods), paper (International Paper, Tak Investments), furniture retail distribution (Cost Plus/World Market), healthcare (Riverside Regional Medical Center), public education, grocery (Food Lion, Kroger), and agribusiness (212 farms, $73.4M in agricultural product sales in 2022).

Governance runs through an elected Board of Supervisors, with the Economic Development Authority (established 1968 as the Industrial Development Authority) retaining authority to issue tax-exempt industrial development bonds. The current leadership team comprises Director Kristine R. Sutphin (appointed February 2024), Economic Development Coordinator Nicole Talton, Business Development Analyst Katie Kelley, and Administrative Assistant Gloria Spratley. The department's primary customer segments, per its 2012 Strategic Plan, are Manufacturing, Food & Beverage Processing, Transportation & Warehousing, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services, Defense, Management of Companies & Enterprises, Small Business, and Agribusiness. The county's population grew from 38,606 (2020 Census) to 41,321 (July 2025 estimate), retail sales reached $337,261,254 in 2024, and the regional Hampton Roads MSA labor force stands at approximately 845,860.

Name

Isle of Wight County

Legal name

Isle of Wight County

Website

https://insidetheisle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Isle of Wight County is a local government entity in southeastern Virginia whose Economic Development Department attracts, retains, and expands business investment through site selection, permitting, and incentive administration. It serves prospective and existing businesses across manufacturing, logistics, agribusiness, and small-business segments within the Hampton Roads region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Taxpayer Services, Education & Outreach (BPAIADAM)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction incentives
• Industrial site selection
• Government business support
• Permitting assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Isle Of Wight

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Services: The Isle of Wight County Economic Development Department is a government organization funded by county tax revenues. It provides economic development services to attract, retain, and expand businesses in the county. Revenue is generated through taxes rather than direct service fees. The department administers the Enterprise Zone Program and provides funding to Hampton Roads Alliance and Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Isle of Wight County's Department of Economic Development provides government economic development services to attract, retain, and expand business investment within the county. Core services include site selection assistance, permitting coordination through the Central Permitting Division, administration of incentive programs (Virginia Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone #20), promotion of industrial properties including the 1,200-acre Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park, and business resource support. The department operates as a government entity funded by county tax revenues and state grants rather than commercial fees.

Product overview

Isle of Wight County's economic development offerings consist of a unified website platform providing business resources, property services, and community information. The core product is the insidetheisle.com website which serves as a one-stop portal for starting or growing a business, accessing property listings (including the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park), obtaining incentives, and connecting with local businesses through the directory. Supporting services include the Inside the Isle monthly newsletter, business license and tax guidance, demographics data, and workforce development resources. This is not a technology product but a government service portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park A 1,200-acre county-owned industrial park with three phases offering sites for manufacturing, distribution, and port-related businesses, featuring Foreign Trade Zone #20 designation and Virginia Enterprise Zone status. Designed for enterprises seeking strategic location near the Port of Virginia with multi-modal logistics access.
• Business Incentives Program Administration of local, state, and federal incentive programs available to businesses, including the Virginia Enterprise Zone program, Foreign Trade Zone benefits, rehabilitated commercial real estate exemptions, and tourism zone incentives. Targets businesses creating jobs and investment in the county.
• Business Licenses and Tax Information Portal Comprehensive guide covering business license requirements, tax rates, and processes for Isle of Wight County, Town of Smithfield, and Town of Windsor, including real estate, machinery & tools, and business personal property tax information. Businesses with gross receipts over $25,000 must purchase a license.
• Available Properties Search Searchable database of available commercial and industrial properties in Isle of Wight County, including featured industrial properties and buildings for lease or sale. Serves businesses seeking real estate for operations in the county.
• Local Business Directory Online business directory promoting local businesses within Isle of Wight County, covering various categories including retail, services, restaurants, healthcare, and professional services. Used by residents and visitors to find local businesses.
• Demographics and Data Resources Population, income, housing, education, and workforce statistics for Isle of Wight County, with downloadable community profiles and data reports. Used by businesses and site selection consultants for market analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% on-time high school graduation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hampton Roads AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partnership providing coordinated business development efforts across the Hampton Roads region. Isle of Wight receives funding support and collaborative marketing.
• Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (HRSBDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSmall business development center providing resources and support for small businesses in the region. Isle of Wight provides funding to support this partnership.
• Isle of Wight County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school system consisting of 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools with 5,500+ students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) program provides workforce training aligned with local business needs.
• Paul D. Camp Community CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTwo-year college offering associate degrees, certificates, and technical training. Provides workforce development programs including CDL training, healthcare certifications, welding, and logistics programs.
• Hampton Roads Workforce CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development board serving Southside Hampton Roads employers and job seekers. Provides testing services, job-specific training, and connections to military personnel.
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development organization administering programs including Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund, Virginia Jobs Investment Program, and Virginia Enterprise Zone.
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency supporting agriculture and forestry industries. Administers Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) for local agricultural processing facilities.
• Port of VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort operator providing tax credits and grant programs for maritime-related businesses. Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park is designated as a Magnet Site for Foreign Trade Zone benefits.
• Dominion Virginia PowerminorOthersPrimary electricity supplier for Isle of Wight County including multi-phased power to industrial sites.
• Community Electric CooperativeminorOthersElectricity provider for portions of south and central Isle of Wight County.
• Columbia Gas of VirginiaminorOthersNatural gas supplier for Isle of Wight County businesses.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension (Isle of Wight County)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAgricultural extension service providing research-based education and support for local farmers and agricultural operations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City of Suffolk Economic Development: Larger Hampton Roads locality with a more developed industrial portfolio and EDO team. Comparable as a same-region competitor targeting manufacturing, distribution, and port-related investment.
• James City County Office of Economic Development: Adjacent Virginia locality EDO offering similar site-selection, permitting, and incentive administration services. Comparable as a directly competing locality-level economic development office in the same regional labor market.
• Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development: Hampton Roads city-level economic development office operating at larger scale but with the same core mandate. Comparable as a same-region public-sector EDO competing for the same pool of regional prospects.
• Chesapeake Economic Development: Hampton Roads city-level EDO with significant industrial real estate and a comparable business attraction/retention mandate. Directly comparable in target industries and prospect pipeline.
• York County Economic Development Authority: Neighboring Virginia county EDO with a similar mandate of business attraction, retention, and expansion within the Hampton Roads region. Directly comparable as a same-state, same-region locality EDO competing for overlapping investment projects.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Alliance: Regional economic development organization covering the broader Hampton Roads MSA. Comparable as a peer-level EDO operating in the same geography and competing for overlapping prospects and federal/state grant funding.
• Greater Richmond Partnership: Central Virginia regional EDO marketing the Richmond metro to manufacturing and corporate investment prospects. Comparable as a Virginia-based public-sector EDO with overlapping target industries.
• Roanoke Regional Partnership: Regional EDO in a different part of Virginia pursuing similar manufacturing, distribution, and workforce attraction mandates. Comparable as a Virginia-based regional EDO with parallel structure and target sectors.
• Greater Norfolk Chamber: Regional business development and advocacy organization in the Hampton Roads area. Comparable as an adjacent public-private economic development actor operating in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP): State-level economic development authority administering major incentive programs (Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund, Virginia Enterprise Zone, Virginia Jobs Investment Program). Comparable as a higher-tier public-sector counterpart in the same Virginia EDO ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrkojjcdnQGdH9CzWqdwVww
• Facebookfacebook.com/IsleofWightCountyVAEconDev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isle-of-wight-county-economic-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/insidetheisle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Isle of Wight County