Virginia Economic Development Partnership

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is a state government entity registered in SAM.gov since 2011, focused on promoting economic growth and international trade opportunities for Virginia's businesses. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the organization specializes in providing export expansion services and economic development support to small businesses and regional economic ecosystems. Through its strategic initiatives, VEDP works to enhance Virginia's economic competitiveness by connecting local businesses with international market opportunities and developing robust economic strategies.

VEDP has been a consistent recipient of federal grants, particularly from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of International Trade through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). These grants, ranging from $288,000 to $900,000 annually, have enabled VEDP to deliver critical services such as trade missions, foreign trade show assistance, export training, market entry support, translation services, and international marketing campaign development. Additionally, VEDP received a $1.2 million Economic Adjustment Assistance grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration in 2021 to support post-COVID economic recovery strategies. Recent sub-grant activities include collaborating with the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to create user-friendly public-facing dashboards and program scorecards. The organization's grant-funded work consistently aims to increase the number of small businesses engaged in exporting, expand export sales, and provide technical assistance to help businesses navigate international markets and economic challenges.