Work Force/Low Cost/Quality of Life

Work Force

The Town of Bedford is located in between the cities of Lynchburg and Roanoke connected by US Route 460, a four lane divided highway, Consequently, Bedford is a daily commute from both metropolitan areas opening up the town to a potential labor force of approximately 500,000 workers.
  • A satellite campus of the Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) is located at The Bedford Center for Business. Both CVCC and Virginia Western Community College located in Roanoke provide industry focused training programs that benefit local companies as well as offer off-campus classes for the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion University. Liberty University School of Engineering and Computational Sciences research campus is a 10 minute drive from Bedford providing partnerships opportunities between local businesses, academia and emerging engineering talent.
  • The Bedford Science and Technology Center located in the Town of Bedford provides hands-on Career Technical Education for high school students focusing on hands-on training.
  • Virginia is a “right-to-work” state with approximately 3% of the regional work force unionized.

Low Cost

Utility/Commodity charges for businesses located within the Town of Bedford
  • The average industrial electricity rate for companies located in Bedford is 7.07¢/kWh.
  • Water rate of $3.65/1000 gallons up to 600,000 gallons.
  • Sewer rate of $5.50/1000 gallons up to 600,000 gallons.
Taxes for businesses located within the Town of Bedford
  • Real Estate Tax of $0.032 per 100 dollars of assessed value – Town of Bedford
  • Real Estate Tax of $0.052 per 100 dollars of assessed value – County of Bedford
  • No Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax - Town of Bedford
  • 0% Business Tool and Machinery Tax - Town of Bedford
  • 1.2 % Business Tool and Machinery Tax – County of Bedford

Virginia manufacturers have one of the lowest average workers' compensation costs in the country. At $0.72 per $100 of payroll in January 2010, Virginia ranks third lowest nationally and is 39.5% percent lower than the U.S. average. The cost of living for the Bedford area is low with a Cost of Living Index of 90.

Quality of Life

  • Schools - Bedford County School system is dedicated to excellence in education with 95% of its school gaining full accreditation while offering Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, Early College, and Enrichment programs, Governor’s Health Science Academy and Acceler8, a regional Governor’s S.T.E.M program.
  • Library System – Six public libraries are maintained by the Bedford Public Library System.
  • Recreation – The Town of Bedford as well as Bedford County has numerous parks offering hiking and mountain bike trails, disc golf courses, picnic pavilions, baseball and soccer facilities. Bedford is located adjacent to thousands of acres National forest land as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 30,000 acre Smith Mountain Lake is located 20 minutes from Bedford to the south combined with the James River 20 minutes to the North, provide ample boating/fishing activities. Other amenities include local golf courses, a variety of local restaurants, local wineries and breweries, historical attractions such as the National D-Day Memorial as well as organized special events like Bedford Centerfest.
  • Low Crime – The Town of Bedford is a safe place to live, work, and play in part due to the state accredited Bedford Police Department combined with its tight community and small town environment.