Why the Lynchburg Region is the Next Hub for Young Talent
By: Megan Lucas, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
Our region is emerging as the dynamic epicenter for young talent which is evident by the caliber of young professionals recognized in this issue. Congratulations to all the winners of the Top 20 Under 40! The Lynchburg region is often celebrated for its rich history and scenic beauty, but it is quickly becoming a vibrant hub for talent. Since joining the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance as CEO in 2014, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of our region’s investment in education and professional development.
The future is indeed here, walking around and pursuing degrees, and our region is poised to become the next hub for young talent.
We are a young region. The median age in the Lynchburg region overall is 39.9 years old, while the median age for the City of Lynchburg is 28.4 years old. One of the main reasons for that is our region’s robust educational infrastructure. The Lynchburg region is home to five universities and one community college. These institutions not only provide high-quality education but also entice around 85,000 students to our region and foster an environment that encourages innovation, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit.
With 25.4 percent of our region’s population now falling between 18–34 years old it is vital we nurture over a quarter of the talent here so that they will continue to call here home even after they graduate.
Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) is a program of the Alliance dedicated to doing just that by fostering personal and professional growth among young professionals. It creates an atmosphere of community and connection through monthly engagement events, professional development opportunities, volunteering with local nonprofits, and an annual professional development summit called Level Up. By holding gatherings in various locations across the region, young professionals experience all that this area has to offer while forming meaningful friendships with others in the same season of life. YPCV is open to young professionals in any sector of our region’s workforce from the trades to the office to remote workers and everywhere in-between. Creating opportunities for young professionals to grow their connectedness to our region ensures a committed workforce for the region’s future.
While the Young Professionals are growing professionally in our business community the Alliance has launched Leading Off Campus, a Leadership Lynchburg program catered to equipping collegiate talent with the skills and competencies they need to excel into their professional roles. Students in this program embark on a semester-long journey over the summer where they learn about topics such as servant leadership and effective teams, and, like YPCV, explore the Lynchburg region. The goal of YPCV and Leading Off Campus is to retain young talent by embedding them into the community they live in and the organizations they work for.
The Lynchburg region’s business landscape is another critical factor in attracting young talent. The region boasts a diverse economy with thriving sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, technology, and finance, just to name a few, providing ample employment opportunities for young professionals with average salaries of $60,000 or higher. These sectors are also growing and in high demand for a qualified workforce which means young professionals will have plenty of options to choose from.
Beyond education and employment, the Lynchburg region offers an exceptional quality of life that appeals to young professionals. A lower cost of living compared to larger metropolitan areas and 7.9 percent below the national average means that young professionals can enjoy a higher quality of life without the financial pressures often associated with “big city” living. All the while they still get to enjoy our region’s vibrant urban hub and the benefits of the great outdoors. From hiking the Appalachian Trail to water sports on the James River and Smith Mountain Lake—plus a great food and arts scene—there is no shortage of ways to stay active and enjoy local flavor and culture.
As we look to the future, the potential for the Lynchburg region to continue attracting and nurturing young talent is immense. The region’s strategic investments in education, business, and community development are paying off, creating a bright and promising future for the next generation of leaders.
If you are a young professional reading this, or if you employ young professionals, I encourage you to get involved and continue to grow in your career.
The future is indeed here, and it lives in the Lynchburg region.
