HENRICO INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE & BEYOND
Henrico is recognized across the globe for its robust, resilient and scalable Internet infrastructure. At the heart of the QTS Data Center in its White Oak Technology Park lies the Richmond Network Access Point (NAP), which has helped to firmly cement Henrico’s superior reputation in the international connectivity landscape.
The NAP in Henrico is a textbook example of how data centers and subsea cables should optimally converge.Featuring five subsea cables–MAREA, BRUSA, Dunant, SAEx and Confluence-1–it offers high-speed and highly scalable connectivity from Henrico to Spain, Brazil, San Juan, France and beyond. Additionally, there are 16 network carriers present at the NAP that provide diverse routes from Henrico to the rest of Virginia, the East Coast and the US. Not to mention, last December the global interconnection specialist company DE-CIX called Henrico their home by extending the world’s leading data center- and carrier-neutral interconnection platform to the locality. The Henrico DE-CIX Internet Exchange is one of only five in North America.
A VAST TECH PIPELINE
If you’re searching for top talent to drive your business success, look no further. Henrico is #1 for IT and technology employment in Virginia, outside of Northern Virginia. The region showcases a skilled tech workforce of approximately 193,000—nearly 30 percent of the total labor pool in the region. Sporting the second-highest rate of millennial growth in the US., 93 percent of the population holds at least a high school diploma, and 44 percent holds bachelor’s degrees and higher. What’s more, within two hours of the region, there are nearly 30 colleges, universities and professional schools, including Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech and College of William and Mary, to name a few.
But for businesses to thrive, especially in the modern era, it’s not enough to choose a place where you can attract top talent. You need to choose a stimulating environment that fulfills your employees and makes them want to stay. Henrico more than delivers.
A REGIONAL CONNECTION
In October 2015, the Virginia Capital Trail was unveiled. In just six years, the trail has transformed into an outdoor sanctuary for Henrico residents and tourists alike. Central Virginia’s first truly regional trail, it offers a paved pathway traversing 51.7 miles from Richmond to Jamestown and runs through the jurisdictions of Henrico, Richmond, James City and Charles City.
More than 80 years after a trolley between Richmond and Ashland stopped running, construction began on the Trolley Trail. It utilizes the old Ashland-Richmond Trolley Line alignment, which runs from north to south and will connect to the Virginia Capital Trail, which runs from east to west. What started as an idea for a 16- or 17-mile trail that would end in downtown Richmond has transformed into a 41-mile paved trail to historic Petersburg.
Moreover, I have yet to mention the unbeatable proximity of Henrico to the James River, which offers the only urban class IV white water rafting in the US.
What does this mean for residents in our region? Connectivity beyond the confines of a car. Stunning vistas that feed the soul. And a rich land (and sea) providing opportunities for miles.
THE NASCAR CONNECTION
The Richmond Raceway in Henrico is home to NASCAR. This year, America’s premier short track will commemorate its 75th Anniversary Season. One of the most legacy-rich venues in all of motorsports, America’s Premier Short Track is celebrating its storied history from half-mile dirt to today’s iconic 3/4-mile D-shaped oval, with legends like NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. set to race.
