The commonwealth’s continued prosperity depends on the strength and reliability of its supply chains and nowhere is that more evident than in the progress now underway at the Port of Virginia. The port is nearing completion of its $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program, which the General Assembly wisely invested in because of the economic returns it will deliver to the commonwealth.
This program includes dredging the harbor to 55 feet, making Virginia’s shipping channels the deepest on the East Coast. It also includes construction of a fourth berth capable of handling ultra‑large container vessels and the addition of four new Suez‑class ship‑to‑shore cranes, with a fifth berth on schedule for completion in 2027. These improvements strengthen Virginia’s competitiveness and enable growth for existing businesses, attract new investments, and support job creation — even beyond the more than 565,000 jobs throughout the commonwealth already supported by the Port of Virginia.
State leaders and regional partners have built on this momentum. Both the Hampton Roads Alliance and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership have made logistics a priority in their economic development strategies because the logistics sector is a powerful driver of job creation and long‑term business expansion and attraction. These organizations understand that a strong logistics ecosystem benefits every region of the state, from agriculture and manufacturing to retail and e‑commerce.
Yet Virginia’s port, exporters, importers, trucking firms, warehouse operators and rail providers have been enduring an exceptionally challenging trade environment. These businesses, and the workers they support, are the backbone of Virginia’s supply chains. Their ability to operate efficiently affects every resident who buys, sells or depends on goods transported across our ports and highways. Above all, and especially now, they need stability and predictability from Richmond.
As this year’s legislative session progresses, bills with potential implications for port users and logistics providers are being introduced and debated. Many are well‑intentioned, aiming to address workplace standards, environmental concerns or regulatory questions. Even well‑meaning policies can have unintended consequences. The Virginia Maritime Association is closely monitoring legislation affecting port operations and supply chain businesses and has identified meaningful risks that could undermine prior public investments and weaken Virginia’s competitive standing.
The General Assembly has made affordability a central plank of its agenda this year. But placing new cost pressures on the businesses that anchor our supply chains risks undermining that very priority. When transportation, warehousing and port operations become more expensive, those increases ripple outward, ultimately affecting the affordability of groceries, household goods, building materials and virtually every product Virginians depend on. The economics of new regulations is like the economics of tariffs.
At the same time, legislators must consider the substantial public investments already made in the Port of Virginia. These investments have positioned the commonwealth as a premier logistics hub on the East Coast and have helped secure major manufacturing, distribution and export‑oriented projects. Preserving the return on these investments requires a policy environment that does not impede but instead supports the businesses that rely on our ports. As lawmakers evaluate new bills, it is essential that they carefully weigh the implications for supply‑chain efficiency, cost of goods and long‑term economic growth.
Virginia’s competitive edge is the result of deliberate planning, sustained investment and a commitment by state leaders to foster a business‑friendly climate. To protect this progress, the General Assembly must take care not to enact policies that inadvertently weaken the commonwealth’s supply chains or diminish the economic promise of its world‑class port infrastructure.
The path ahead is clear: Safeguard the investments that have positioned Virginia as a logistics leader, support the industries that keep our goods moving, and ensure that affordability remains a defining feature of life in the commonwealth.
Will Fediw of Virginia Beach is the senior vice president of the Virginia Maritime Association, with a membership of more than 450 businesses across Virginia and a mission to promote, protect and facilitate commerce through Virginia’s ports and the interests of associated industries and supply chains.
