Gloucester County Economic Development

05/29/2026

🏆 Virginia Living Magazine officially released its highly anticipated Best of Virginia 2026 issue. 🏆

What does it actually mean to place in the Top 3 of Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia? It means you didn’t just survive the competition, you conquered it.

To understand the scale of this achievement, you have to look at the sheer density of the Eastern Region. We are talking about an area that spans 22 massive counties and 10 major independent cities.

From the rural stretches of the Eastern Shore down to the bustling metropolitan hubs of Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach, this region is packed with thousands of world-class businesses, artisans, and service providers.

Lets take a look at these categories that our local businesses placed in!

Best Food and Drink:
Bangkok Noi Thai Cuisine, 2nd Place for Asian Restaurants
Scoot's BBQ, 1st Place for Barbecue
Olivia's in the Village, 2nd Place for Breakfast/Brunch
Short Lane Ice Cream Co , 1st Place for Ice Cream Shops
Tony & Milena's Pizzeria, 2nd Place for Italian Restaurants
Los Portales, 1st Place for Mexican Restaurants
YROC Coastal Bar & Grill, 2nd Place for Outdoor Dining
Sweet Tooth Cafe & Bakery, 3rd Place for Sandwich Shop and 3rd Place for Bakery
Gloucester Brewing Company, 2nd Place for Brewery

Best Living and Recreation:
Daffodil Festival - Gloucester, Virginia, 3rd Place for Festivals
Flat Iron Crossroads, 3rd Place for Music Venues
Rappahannock Community College, 2nd Place in Paddle/Racquet Sports Facility

Best Services:
Wellness Place, 2nd Place for Counseling/Therapy Practice
Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Behavioral Health, 3rd Place for Counseling/Therapy Practice
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital , 3rd Place for Hospitals
Riverside Partners in Women's Health, 2nd Place for OB/GYN Practices
Hampton Roads Eye Associates, 2nd Place for Optometry Practice
Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group, 1st Place for Orthopedic Practice
Belfield Physical Therapy, 1st Place for Physical Therapy Practice
Split Enz Salon, 3rd Place in Barbershop and 3rd Place in Hair Salon
Dermatology Consultants of Gloucester, 1st Place in Dermatology Practice
Brent and Becky's. 1st Place in Greenhouse & Nursery
Gloucester Toyota, 2nd Place in Car Dealers
Tidal Wave Auto Spa, 3rd Place for Car Wash
Edward Jones, 3rd Place in Financial Planning Firms
Faulkner Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3rd Place in Funeral Homes

Gloucester County is beaming with pride at your accomplishment!

05/29/2026

Are you a local business owner looking to grow your team, upskill your current staff, or map out your next big move?

The Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board (BCWDB) offers incredible, federally funded solutions completely free of charge to employers across our region!

Here is how they can help your business thrive:

- Recruit Top Talent: Get direct help hosting customized job fairs and tapping into diverse local talent pools.
- Training & Funding: Access specialized funding to support on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and employee upskilling.
- Market Insights: Stay competitive with expert data on local wage trends and regional labor market projections.
- Retention Strategies: Learn proven ways to build solid career pathways and boost your overall team retention.

Take advantage of these community resources to scale your business sustainably.

👉 Learn more and connect with their Business Services Team here: baywib.org

Take a look at their Employee Toolkit here:https://www.baywib.org/wp-content/uploads/BCWDB-Employer-Toolkit-PY25.pdf

05/29/2026

⚙️ Local Business Spotlight: Advanced Finishing Systems, Inc. ⚙️

We love celebrating the incredible businesses that drive our community forward! Today, we want to give a huge shout-out to Advanced Finishing Systems, Inc. right here in Gloucester County. 🛠️

For decades, they have been a powerhouse in specialized metal finishing. They provide top-tier services like:
- Precision Anodizing
- Expert Plating
- High-Quality Powder Coating
From custom prototypes to high-volume production, they handle it all with precision and care.

Thank you, Advanced Finishing Systems, for being such an integral part of Gloucester County and helping our local economy thrive! 👏✨

Need expert metal finishing? Support local and check out their services or request a quote here: https://afinishingsys.com/

📍2954 S George Washington Mem Hwy, Hayes, VA 23072
📞 (804) 642-7669

Unlock Your Metal's Full Potential – Your Ultimate Destination for Metal Finishing Excellence!

05/28/2026

Good afternoon Gloucester County!

The Gloucester Passport is a tourism marketing initiative designed to encourage visitors to explore Gloucester County’s local businesses, historic sites, attractions, and outdoor destinations. The timely roll out of this initiative celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the 375th anniversary of the Gloucester County’s founding. Professionally printed passports celebrating these milestones and the businesses that make Gloucester special will be distributed through hotels, rentals, campgrounds, visitor centers, and tourism partners, giving travelers an easy-to-use guide to some of the best experiences Gloucester has to offer.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited.

Apply Here : https://form.jotform.com/261474235859063

05/28/2026

🛠️ Big shoutout to Horn's Gloucester Ace Hardware!

If you have a weekend project or just need a quick fix, remember to check our local Ace on John Clayton Memorial Hwy before making that long drive out of town. From stocking premium paints and premium grills to having the exact hardware you need, they make DIY so much easier.

More than just a great store, we want to say a huge thank you to the Horn’s Ace team for being such a wonderful part of the Gloucester community! Whether they are helping us find the right tool or welcoming our four-legged friends with open arms, their friendly, expert service makes our town a better place to live. We are incredibly lucky to have you here! 🤝🐾

📍 Find them at: 7307 John Clayton Memorial Hwy
📞 804-654-8010

05/28/2026

Calling all Virginia business owners and makers! 📣 The 2026 Made in Virginia Awards are officially back, and Virginia Living is hunting for the Commonwealth’s most impressive, creative, and delicious products.

Could your business be one of this year's 20 standout winners? 🌟

Categories are Food, Drink, Home & Lifestyle, Style & Beauty

🏆 The Prizes

Grand Prize (1 Winner): $1,000 cash, a special feature in the Dec '26 issue, massive social media exposure, and the Grand Prize Winner badge.

Winners: Featured placement in the Nov/Dec '26 issue, digital spotlights, and official winner badge rights for your packaging and website.

🗓️ Important Deadlines
Submissions Close: June 17 at 11:59 p.m.
Physical Sample Deadline: Must be delivered to the Richmond office by Monday, June 22.

For more details and to enter your product, visit the Virginia Living website. Good luck, business owners!
https://virginialiving.com/made-in-virginia-2026/

05/26/2026

Harbor Freight will be hosting another hiring event tomorrow from 10 AM until 5 PM at the Gloucester County Library-Virginia Main Library:

05/22/2026

Career Technical Education (CTE) programs can be life changing for students.

We would like our community to provide us feedback on how we can improve these programs by taking the short survey at this link: https://forms.gle/CTEQM54vcwGD9v4w9

05/20/2026

✨✨Attention Business Owners✨✨

05/18/2026

🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched the Patriot Pitch Competition, offering a $1 million prize pool funded by Clover to showcase innovative small businesses as part of a 250-year celebration of American free enterprise. Eligible small businesses utilizing SBA capital products must submit applications by June 10 for a chance to pitch at the September finals in Washington, D.C. For full eligibility and application details, visit http://www.sba.gov/freedom250.

Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary For 250 years, small businesses have powered innovation, created opportunity, and strengthened local communities. Main Street Builds America – and through Freedom 250, SBA is honoring that legacy while investing in the next generation of builders, makers, ...