Danville Economic Development Opportunities Report August 2025

Nestled along the Dan River in south-central Virginia, the City of Danville offers a blend of historical charm, modern amenities, and outstanding economic opportunities. Once a hub for textiles and tobacco, the city has transformed its downtown into the vibrant River District, featuring repurposed warehouses, local boutiques, and a variety of dining options. The Danville Region boasts five industrial parks, a mega-site park, and an impressive inventory of available sites and buildings.  See why Danville is the choice of many seeking a premier location to live, work and play.

Location, Location, Location

Located in south-central Virginia along the North Carolina border, Danville is within a day’s drive of over 60 percent of the U.S. population and two-thirds of the country’s industrial base. An excellent highway system and easy access to Interstates 40 and 85 make Danville extremely well-suited to reaching mid-Atlantic markets and international shipping facilities.

Danville’s accessible mid-Atlantic location facilitates travel and distribution of goods, services, and people. Major highways, interstates, rail access, proximity to the Port of Virginia, and multiple commercial and international airports result in an outstanding intermodal transportation network to support businesses of all types and sectors.

The Danville Region is well served by commercial air service provided through the Lynchburg Regional Airport in Lynchburg, Virginia, about 45.5 miles away; the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport in Roanoke, Virginia, about 67 miles away; the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Raleigh/Durham, N.C., about 74 miles away; and the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C., about 75.1 miles away. General aviation service is conveniently provided by the Danville Regional Airport, which has a runway Length of 5,900 feet.

The area has robust rail service provided by Norfolk Southern Railway Company, one of the nation’s largest railroad systems, which is owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS), a holding company that owns and operates the Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Its lines run through 22 states, mainly in the South and East, and extend into Ontario, Canada, covering approximately 21,300 miles of rail.

As for seaports and other ports of entry, the area is served by the Port of Virginia, 259 miles away; Winston Salem, 75.1 miles away; Raleigh-Durham, about 92 miles away; and the Port of Washington–Dulles, about 213 away.

Why Danville?

While Danville is renowned throughout the country for its manufacturing heritage and relaxed lifestyle, the region is also considered one of the top business locations. From corporate headquarters, regional distribution centers, and product manufacturing to high-tech research, the city spans a dynamic economic spectrum. Businesspeople from around the world are discovering the vast possibilities of Danville. The community is a premier business location and home to major corporations, including:

• Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
• Buitoni Food Company
• EPL America
• CIT
• EBI
• Tyson Foods
• Aerofarms
• Litehouse Foods
• Zollner Elektronik

Danville is the only Virginia municipality that owns, operates, and supplies all utilities. Danville Utilities, owned and operated by the city, offers customers cost-effective water, wastewater, natural gas, electricity, and broadband, serving more than 43,300 customers in the city and portions of Pittsylvania, Halifax and Henry counties.

Danville’s competitiveness is enhanced by having electric rates that are among the lowest in the state, and gas rates consistently lower than those of other local suppliers. The city’s commitment to service is illustrated through it achieving the American Public Power’s RP3 (Reliable Public Power Provider) Platinum Level designation in 2025. This designation recognizes Danville as a public power utility that demonstrates leading practices in reliability, safety, and workforce development, as well as system improvement.  In addition, Danville offers significant excess water capacities that can accommodate high-volume users.

New and expanding businesses in Danville benefit from low operating costs, a business-friendly tax structure, and a turnkey approach to providing essential operating services at highly competitive rates. Danville maintains one of the lowest metropolitan tax structures in the country.

Quality of Life

Attributes include 35 miles of mountain bike trails, the Danville Riverwalk Trail, totaling almost 13 miles, and more than 1,000 acres of parks.  The award-winning Angler’s Ridge is one of the region’s longest single-track mountain biking networks, offering a variety of trails for multiple experience levels.

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History (DMFAH) is in the Sutherlin Mansion on Millionaire’s Row in Danville. DMFAH was designated as a U.S. Civil Rights Trail site, one of only four in Virginia.

Danville’s vibrant downtown, the River District, is a critical part of the community’s quality of life and is a uniquely vibrant area that serves as a vital element of the future economic health of the Danville Region. The River District Association’s (RDA) vision includes economically viable and unique businesses, attractions, restaurants, and residential areas that attract local citizens to visit the District and entice future residents to relocate to the area.

In Danville, opportunity meets quality of life. Its strong business infrastructure, exceptional education systems and affordable utility services offer a unique blend of economic vitality and community charm.  Here, location, tradition, and transformation go hand in hand.  Whether you are a business leader, a student, or a family looking for a place to call home, Danville stands ready to welcome you with open arms and open doors. Come and explore the many opportunities in Danville. Visit discoverdanville.com to see all this city has to offer.

Vacant Land:

• Cyber Park, Lot 7D (62.86 acres)
• Cyber Park, Lot 5 (39 acres)
• Cyber Park, Lot 10C (27.96 acres)
• 175 Airside Drive (Lot 2J) (50.40 acres)
• Bright Leaf Rd Site (57.96 acres)
• Coleman Site (158.40 acres)
• Riverview Industrial Park, Lot 5B4 (11 acres)
• Cyber Park, Lot 12B (19 acres)

Industrial Space:

• Corning Building (258,540 square feet)
• 816 Monument Street (29,000 square feet)
• Cane Creek Centre Shell Building (100,000 square feet)
• 200 Kentuck Road (1,403,550 square feet)
• 119 Cane Creek Blvd (50,652 square feet)
• Cahill Warehouse (101,182 square feet)
• 816 Monument St (29,000 square feet of industrial)
• Cyber Shell Building (30,000 square feet)
• 301 Trade St (125,000 square feet)
• 1101 Industrial Avenue (15,500 square feet)

Office Space:

• Dan River Falls – Space D (7,204 square feet)
• The Knitting Mill (5,300 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space J (10,506 square feet)
• Dan River Research Building (12,194 square feet)
• 554 Craghead St (7,000 square feet)
• 125 – A Executive Drive (9,700 square feet)
• 2307 South Boston Highway (11,760 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space H (13,297 square feet)
• 1054 Industrial Ave (5,372 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space A (17,608 square feet)
• 201 North Union Street (8,010 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space E (10,680 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space F (6,294 square feet)

Restaurant/Retail Space:

• 425 Memorial Drive (10,270 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space B (8,029 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space I (1,203 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space C (8,030 square feet)
• Dan River Falls – Space G (6,294 square feet)

Mixed Use:

• 200 Kentuck Road (1,403,550 square feet)
• 255 Lowes Drive (6,444 square feet)
• The Knitting Mill – Suite T6 & T7 (5,347 square feet)
• Dan River Plaza (36,585 square feet)
• The Knitting Mill – Suite T5 (4,367 square feet)
• Former Woolworth’s Building (31,017 square feet)
• 310 Main St (suite 200) (1,826 square feet)
• 712 River Park Drive (10,000 square feet)
• Filtration Plant (22,534 square feet)
• 810 Industrial Ave (18,560 square feet)
• 402 Wilson Street (86,567 square feet)

Public Power and AMP

Public power utilities are not-for-profit, community-owned electric systems that work to provide the highest-quality, most reliable power to residents and businesses. They are part of the communities and focus on what is best for the people and businesses they serve.

American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) is the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for more than 130 Members in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, a joint action agency with nine Delaware municipal members. Combined, these Member municipal electric utilities serve approximately 661,000 customers. AMP Members receive their power supply from a diversified resource mix that includes wholesale power purchases through AMP and the open market and energy produced at AMP and Member-owned generating facilities utilizing fossil fuel, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and other renewable resources.

For more information about our Member communities and programs, visit searchampsites.com.