Jay Langston, Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Partnership, discusses the field of economic development and bringing businesses to the Shenandoah Valley with our president, Steve Gilman
Cultural amenities, affordable housing, good schools — they aren’t just factors people look for when deciding to live somewhere, they’re what businesses are paying attention to when considering an expansion of their workforce operations. It’s no longer enough to just set up shop and post job openings. Companies are intentionally looking for strong quality of life factors and asking the questions for their employees – where will they live and what will their experience be like here?
It’s a question Jay Langston loves to answer. As the Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Partnership, he’s leading the efforts to expand and relocate business to the region, finding the right balance of what’s important to them and what fits with the Valley. In this episode, we talk with Jay about his career in economic development, balancing work between new and existing businesses, and the features that make up the Shenandoah Valley.
About the Guest
Jay Langston
Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Partnership
Jay is the Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Partnership, the regional economic development organization in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he is leading efforts to expand and relocate business to the region. He has over 30 years of extensive experience in economic and business development, and in 2010 received the Virginia Economic Developers Association’s Cardinal Award, the highest award for economic development leadership, career accomplishment, and service.
