Doing Business in Loudoun

A Reliable Partner for Your Development

Loudoun understands the importance of time to market and is committed to providing a predictable and reliable development process. The Department of Economic Development is a member of the larger county team who will work with you on your project, ensuring that your target occupancy is achieved.

Loudoun Economic Development will serve as your key contact throughout your development process, whether it is for a build-to-suit project or as a tenant in an existing space.

A Triple-A Rating for Financial Discipline

With a long tradition of fiscal discipline, Virginia and Loudoun have each consistently maintained a AAA rating from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poors since 2005. Because of this rating, Loudoun County receives the most favorable interest rates available for issuing bonds.

contact buddy rizer to get started in loudoun

Loudoun’s Development Team

Fast-Track Permitting

Taxes and Incentives

Meet Loudoun’s Workforce

Loudoun County By The Numbers in FY2024

Loudoun County Development Team

- Department of Economic Development: Liaison
- Planning and Zoning: Land use and zoning

- Building and Development: Subdivision plans, site plans and building permits

- Loudoun Water: Review for water and sewer connections

- Virginia Department of Transportation: Review roads

- Department of Environmental Quality: Air quality permits associated with generators

What’s new at Rivana?

Rivana at Innovation Station is a multi-phase, 103-acre, transit-oriented, mixed-use development. The masterplan envisions a 9 million square foot, walkable urban center that is directly connected to the Innovation Center Metro station.

Find your place in Rivana

Loudoun’s Non-Cash Incentives:

Located in a state known for its fiscal responsibility, Loudoun County offers distinct tax advantages and a business-friendly government that puts your taxes in the places they’re needed most. In addition to incentives and loans, a variety of other opportunities are available to expanding or relocating businesses in Loudoun County, including:

- An aggressive depreciation schedule of 50 percent year one and 10 percent each following year until year five applies. See specific tax rates by business category.

- A Fast-Track Commercial Incentive Program, aimed toward targeted industries and projects, designed to improve plan review timelines and direct communication with key decision makers.

- The Loudoun County Business Assistance Team gives you coordinated, “no wrong door” service. This cross-departmental team helps simplify the permitting, licensing, mapping and zoning process for you.
- Loudoun’s commercially-zoned land offers affordable utilities to site borders with ready access, including fiber, electricity, natural gas, water and sewer, reclaimed water, and internet service.
- Competitive rental rates on a diverse array of buildings
  - Office $28 per square foot
  - Flex $17 per square foot
  - Industrial $16 per square foot

Virginia’s Incentive Opportunities:

Virginia’s 6% corporate income tax has not been raised in more than 40 years and is based on a three-factor apportionment formula of payroll, property, and sales. A single-factor apportionment election based on sales is available for manufacturing companies.

Whether you’re starting, relocating or expanding a business in Loudoun County, we’ve got the financial incentives and financing opportunities that set a foundation for your success, including local incentives and matches for:

Virginia Jobs Investment Program: Designed to support private-sector job creation, this incentive covers recruiting and training costs incurred during new job creation or technology upgrades and provides a variety of free recruiting and training services.

New Jobs Program: An incentive for companies generating over 50 percent of their revenue outside Virginia, creating 25+ new, full-time jobs in Virginia within the first year, and making a new capital investment of $1 million or more.

Small Business New Jobs Program: An incentive for existing Virginia companies with 250 employees or fewer, creating at least five new, full-time jobs within the first year, making a new capital investment of at least $100,000, and paying a minimum entry-level wage of $10 per hour.

Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund: A discretionary incentive for relocating and expanding companies and is awarded to localities on a local 100 percent matching basis. To be eligible for this program, a company must create at least 50 new jobs for which the average wage, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than Loudoun’s prevailing average wage.

With You Every Step of the Way

Locate In Loudoun: Our real estate intelligence manager is available to generate land and building reports that meet your needs and specifications.
Navigate the Process: We will work with you on any zoning and permitting questions, as well as helping you navigate the county’s process to open your business. Our Fast-Track Commercial Incentive Program, which can shorten the development process by up to 75% for qualifying projects.
Develop Your Workforce: Our workforce development manager is a dedicated resource for talent development, overseeing the Work In Loudoun initiative. Whether your client needs help with workforce attraction, retention or upskilling, we can provide the introductions and access to resources to keep up with your client’s growth plans.

Buddy Rizer serves as the Executive Director for economic development in Loudoun County, Virginia, which was named the 2021 Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council. He leads the agency responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationships with Loudoun’s business community in both the commercial and agricultural-based business sectors. During his tenure, Rizer and his team have attracted more than $65 billion in new commercial investment and more than 55 thousand new jobs. During this time, the growth in the commercial based has helped lower the tax rate in Loudoun by more than 42 cents on the dollar, saving residents thousands of dollars annually on their tax bill.

Mr. Rizer is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP), has a master’s in business administration/economics from Longwood University and is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Local Government Management Graduate Program.

Buddy Rizer

Executive Director

Schedule a tour of Loudoun today!