The Greater Richmond Partnership was recognized on May 21 for its use of artificial intelligence in marketing, research, and business development activities as part of the 2026 EDO Awards by a leading site selection and economic development magazine.
The award highlights how the organization has adopted AI to improve productivity and modernize its approach to attracting new businesses. Jennifer Wakefield, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership, said, “As a small team, we’re always looking for ways to boost productivity and lead in industry best practices. This organization-wide adoption supports GRP’s 2025-2030 strategic priorities to advance business recruitment, amplify regional awareness as well as deliver world-class research and market intelligence.”
According to the announcement, AI has enabled the partnership to identify high-growth companies earlier and target site selectors more effectively. The technology also helps ensure that the region’s competitive advantages are visible within an increasingly digital environment focused on site selection.
In 2025, all staff members completed Google’s AI Essentials certification as part of Google’s $9 billion investment in Virginia. The partnership reported that this initiative led to improved consideration scores from site location consultants—adding thirteen percentage points in a Best-in-Class EDO survey—and increased overall productivity. These outcomes are presented as evidence that GRP’s strategy is helping accelerate opportunity identification while strengthening the Richmond Region’s position for future investment.
The Greater Richmond Partnership serves as the lead regional economic development organization for Richmond city and Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties. It provides market data, promotes the region globally, and seeks to generate quality economic opportunities.
