CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development (CVPED) is taking on a larger role in the region’s defense sector growth. CVPED President Helen Cauthen explained how the organization supports economic growth across nine localities, including Albemarle, Louisa, and Culpeper.

“We’re a public-private, not-for-profit group… and our job is really to help support the localities,” she said during an appearance on WINA Morning News on Tuesday.

CVPED works closely with state and local officials to recruit new companies and support existing ones, including big wins like Amazon Web Services and EDGECORE in Louisa County. 

Cauthen also discussed the Chamber’s Defense Affairs Committee (DAC), which CVPED will now oversee. The committee highlights the economic power of defense in the region, responsible for over $1.2 billion in impact across Charlottesville, Albemarle, and Greene County alone.

“It’s over 7,000 jobs, over $600 million in labor income and its tied with the biotech industry… second highest economic engine after University of Virginia,” said Cauthen. Key contributors include Rivanna Station and defense contractors like Northrop Grumman. 

The transition aims to broaden DAC’s reach and strengthen the defense industry across all nine CVPED counties.

“Really, it’s going to I think broaden the effort to include more counties,” Cauthen noted.

While this is the only committee currently transitioning to CVPED, both Cauthen and Chamber leaders see the partnership as an opportunity for deeper regional collaboration moving forward. 

Listen to the full conversation here: