Study Shows $1.2 Billion Defense Sector Impact in Charlottesville Region
The Defense Affairs Committee (DAC) of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has released the results of a Weldon Cooper commissioned study on the financial and social impact of the Defense Community in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Greene County.
Now viewed as the second largest economic generator in the area (after the University of Virginia), this sector comes in at an annual impact of just over $1.2 billion dollars.
This study describes the region’s defense industry including its history, size, growth, features and the economic impact of the sector in 2021. It also touches on how our local community benefits from this sector in terms of quality of life, safety, volunteerism and innovation.
Included in the study was Rivanna Station, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center & School, Department of Defense contracts held by private and non-profit entities, Veterans, and Reserve and National Guard elements. Department of Defense activities at The University of Virginia included contracts, grants, defense research, ROTC, active-duty students attending UVA at the government’s expense and university start-ups that were originally funded through the DoD.
Rivanna Station, located in Albemarle County, has the largest impact, accounting for 52% of the overall annual figure.
The study was conducted to understand the depth and breadth of this “quiet” sector and to educate the community on its importance. Funding for the study was provided by Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville and the UVA Foundation.