Harrisonburg:
Harrisonburg attracts high-quality, high-paying employers

Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg is one of the fastest growing communities in Virginia. A historic region rich in natural beauty and culture, Harrisonburg is an innovative city that fosters new business. Harrisonburg’s planned growth model and strong infrastructure are ideal for building a company or career. Our pro-business government actively seeks and supports technology firms and startup companies, attracting quality employers and employees alike to the area.

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham County MSA has received tremendous investments from both new and existing employers. SRI International, one of the founders of the Silicon Valley, is establishing its Center for Advanced Drug Research (CADRE) here. Merck announced in June a $193 million expansion to enable vaccine production at its Shenandoah Valley facility. CRITICON is preparing a $115 million secure data storage facility in the city. Rosetta Stone, the premier language learning software producer, now has more than 400 employees in downtown Harrisonburg. More and more quality employers are generating highly skilled, well-paid jobs.

Harrisonburg is proud to be the home of James Madison University (JMU) and its College of Integrated Science and Technology (CISAT). Seven strategic sectors of study in the ISAT Program include biotechnology, information and knowledge management, engineering and manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, environment and health systems. This curriculum, combined with a faculty possessing tremendous industry experience, offers a competitive advantage as Harrisonburg seeks to attract technology developers and to foster the development of homegrown technology businesses. JMU is also making a strong name for itself in the field of information security. JMU is one of the National Security Agency’s original Centers for Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education. In addition, JMU is the only university in the country with two graduate programs offering concentrations in information security. JMU is also initiating a School of Engineering, with its first students starting in fall 2008.

Employers are quickly discovering the tremendous assets available in the Harrisonburg area.

Ideally situated two hours from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, the Shenandoah Valley offers a great quality of life, a highly skilled work force, and a robust technology infrastructure. Come explore what Harrisonburg has to offer you and your business.