Regional Spotlight: Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HRDEA) The Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) is an effective public-private partnership for the purpose of business attraction and assistance. The mission of HREDA is business attraction – marketing Virginia’s Hampton Roads Region as the preferred location for business investment and expansion. All Alliance initiatives and activities are designed to secure visits with qualified business prospects.  HREDA has a professional staff which develops long-term relationships and assist companies with expansion needs into the Hampton Roads area. HREDA represents fifteen localities in Southeastern Virginia: the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Counties of Gloucester, James City, Isle of Wight, Southampton, and York.  HREDA works with the economic development departments of each of those cities and counties in their retention and relocation efforts.   In March of 2005, the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance merged with the Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development bringing together the two arms of economic development for the region.  This merger was a great move of regionalism of two organizations with the same mission. In 2005, HREDA’s marketing efforts included 38 national and international marketing missions, 29 trade shows, and 19 special events in several countries.  They hosted clients visiting from throughout the United States and eight foreign countries.  Their efforts resulted in expansions and relocations from ten companies last year. LINK: Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance Regional Spotlight Archive: Read More About What's Working in Hampton Roads