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City Guide
RVA Business 101 is now in session
Banking, manufacturing, and health care industries tend to lead the charge in Richmond. | Photo by @aerial_virginia
More than 1.2 millionpeople (and thousands of businesses) across Central Virginia contribute to the Greater Richmond economy. But have you ever wondered about the River City’s heaviest hitters?
Consider this your regional Business 101 — a guide to our key industries and top 10 major employers.
What are our key industries?
There are eight target industries representing the Richmond metro area’s economy, according to the Greater Richmond Partnership. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.
Finance + Insurance | ~117,300 employees
Advanced Manufacturing | ~90,700 employees
Logistics + E-commerce | ~53,000 employees
Life Sciences | ~35,300 employees
Data Centers | ~24,000 employees
Food + Beverage | ~12,000 employees
Corporate Services | Employee number not listed
IT | Employee number not listed
Who are the major players?
You’re probably curious about specific names. We found plenty. Keep reading to find key industry leaders and a list of Richmond’s top 10 business giants.
Hormones play a crucial role in daily well-being. | Photo provided by Virginia Physicians for Women
Hormones influence everything from energy and metabolism to mood and reproductive health. As Dr. Rebecca Schnatz with Virginia Physicians for Women explains, when levels fluctuate, it can be tricky to connect the dots between symptoms and their cause.
Hormone testing could indicate conditions such as PCOS, early or premature menopause, fertility issues, autoimmune disease, or thyroid issues. However, natural fluctuations — like perimenopause after age 40, breastfeeding, or while on hormonal birth control — make hormone tests less reliable.
In these cases, the best approach is a discussion with your doctor about how symptoms are affecting daily life. A personalized plan, whether through lifestyle adjustments, medications, or hormone therapy, can help women feel like themselves again.
The start of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the new moon. Cloud cover and timing, for instance, can impact the observation. Take a look at Virginia’s Ramadan timetable for the latest astronomic calculations.
Development
Later this month, the City of Richmond will begin construction on Jahnke Road, located south of the river between Blackmore Road and Forest Hill Avenue. The $42 million project is anticipated to wrap in 2028. See the list of proposed improvements.
Watch
The Byrd Theatre is about to kick off an Oscar-nominated film run, starting with “Wicked: For Good” this Saturday evening, Feb. 21. If you’re up for a double feature, “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” — an Oscar winner in our hearts — will play that morning. See the full schedule.
Listen
Baltik’s Bagel fans, tune in. Shop owner Yero Rudzinskas sat down with local podcast “Eat it Virginia!” for a hot-seat Q+A, revealing “quirks, cravings, and culinary obsessions.” Plus, a hot take about Richmond’s pastrami and schnitzel scene. (WTVR)
Sports
VCU freshman and rising basketball star Nyk Lewis just scored his fourth A-10 Rookie of the Week honor, averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. See the rip-roaring rookie in action tonight, Feb. 17, at the Rams’ home game against the George Washington Revolutionaries.
Plan Ahead
Get Tight Lounge had to reschedule last weekend’s Mardi Gras Party due to weather, but you can still head out for the free Second Line party this evening, Feb. 17 (more details in today’s Events section). The silver lining: Now you have an excuse to extend your Mardi Gras celebrations to Sunday, March 1.
Sports
Rack ‘em up. In case you missed it, we put together a list of 10+ places to shoot pool in and around Richmond. Editor Elise: I’m more of a darts aficionado, which makes Penny Lane a great place to start, since the upstairs floor has both darts and pool.
Play
Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in future.
Health
Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. With a science-backed program that combines personalized coaching with habit-building tools, Noom is ditching restrictive diets for nourishing meals that lead to real results. Start a free trial.*
Try This
Level up your play with Virginia Lottery Rewards. It’s simple: Log in or sign up and start earning points you can redeem for free Lottery games — online or in-store. That’s play that pays back.*
Since we were talking business today, here’s a nod to the hustle and bustle of Richmond’s Main Street Financial District back in 1949. What do you think of the streetcars?
Sometimes the simplest solutions make the biggest difference. These four products tackle everyday headaches — each for under $30.
👜 Tired of your purse tipping over or disappearing on the car floor? These car purse hooks keep your bags within reach.
🚽 Late-night bathroom runs will no longer feel like an obstacle course thanks to this toilet bowl night light.
🧅 Swap baking soda for this fridge deodorizer that works for up to 10 years, so you can set it once and forget it.
🚗 Designed to reduce strain, this vehicle assist handle provides sturdy support to help you get in + out of your car with ease and stability.
Are you familiar with a paczki? It’s “like a doughnut crossed with a brioche” and paired with fruit filling — a Polish pastry often consumed on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.
If you’re like me (and these RVA Reddit users), you’re looking to get your hands on one. Local Reddit patrons say you can count on grocery stores like Kroger, Costco, Publix, and Fresh Market to find some, but I’m still looking for a local bakery shop. Any leads?
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