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City outlines Virginia Enterprise Zone grants, utilization and outreach plans
Summary
Hampton’s economic development staff reported on two state enterprise zones, described job‑creation and property improvement grant formulas, noted nine 2025 applications, and said staff will increase outreach and consider boundary expansion pending council approval.
Leonard Sledge, chief officer for community and economic development, briefed council on Hampton’s two state‑designated enterprise zones and the grants available to businesses locating or investing within zone boundaries. He described job creation grant thresholds and real property investment grant caps and said the city is ramping up marketing to increase utilization.
Sledge explained specifics: companies creating qualifying jobs (four or more) that pay at least 175% of the federal minimum wage plus benefits qualify for a $500 per‑job annual grant for five years; if wages are 200% of the federal minimum wage plus benefits the amount increases to $800 per job per year. Real property investment grants are available up to $100,000 per building for investments under $5 million and up to $200,000 per building for qualified investments of $5 million or more.
Sledge also reported 9 new applications in 2025 (all real property investment grants) and said Hampton’s urban zone ranked 9th and the Hampton Road Center zone ranked 20th among the state’s enterprise zones in the most recent grant cycle. He said staff will step up outreach using permit data and GIS to identify eligible properties and will return to council if recommending a zone boundary expansion. A new business development manager focused on grants will start June 8 to support administration and outreach.
