ALASKA: The Charlottesville Regional (CR) Chamber of Commerce is celebrating record profits. The mid-year report shows sales in every locality in Central Virginia are up. As expected, revenues were the highest in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. From January to June this year, the 2 localities accounted for more than $1.2 billion in retail sales.
Of all localities, the City of Waynesboro actually saw the biggest jump in retail sales. It’s up more than 10 percent from a year ago. President Tim Hulbert says the trend bodes well for the future. “In 2014, retail sales here finally eclipsed retail sales at the 2007 level, this year in 2015, it’s up over 2014, and so things stay on track, 2015 could be and should be another record year for retail sales in our region.”
Hulbert attributes that growth in sales to more services offered in central Virginia, so people shop locally instead of driving to northern Virginia or Richmond. The revenue supports more than 18,200 jobs in total.
