Friends of the Gateway Region, February 2022 was an historic month not only for the world, but for Virginia’s Gateway Region. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and its President & CEO Thomas Barkin, for visiting our region to update the VGR Team and our partners on the U.S. economy amidst the uncertainties occurring around the globe, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Barkin spoke at a luncheon hosted by VGR at the Keystone Antique Truck and Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights. He gave us a sense of hope while speaking realistically. He said the U.S. economy is strong enough and inflation is high enough that adjusting interest rates towards levels they were at pre-pandemic is possible. He pointed out how the nation’s economy is already larger than it was before COVID-19 entered our lives. Concluding how we are 21 months into the quickest recovery in our memory, Mr. Barkin pointed to the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster in Petersburg.
Now, that is an asset which produces goods, rather than services, which sets VGR apart in a very impactful way for our communities in the Gateway Region, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America. And we should all be very proud of that.
As always, I’m interested in hearing from you. Should you have any questions, please contact me at: +1 (804) 732-8971 or kboswell@gatewayregion.com.
You may also contact Amy Everett, at:
+1 (804) 704-0268 or aeverett@gatewayregion.com.
