Impressions in Print, a small, women-owned company, specializing in printing commercial signage and promotional products, plans to relocate to 753 Voyager Court in the Oceana West Corporate Park. The company is currently located off Cleveland Street near Town Center. Impressions in Print meets the specific criteria for a conforming business in Accident Potential Zone 1 (APZ-1). It replaces a previous nonconforming business on the same site. It has been located in Virginia Beach since 1994.

Impressions plans to purchase a 9,496 square foot building, consisting of class “B” warehouse space, for $1.08 million. With the relocation, the company will invest an additional $140,000 in capital investment for construction costs; furniture, fixtures and equipment; and machinery and tools.

The company is eligible to receive $23,000 in Economic Development Investment Program (EDIP) funds. The funds will be used for on and off-site infrastructure improvements.

“Impressions in Print is a perfect example of how EDIP funds can help companies grow their business in Virginia Beach,” said Warren D. Harris, economic development director. “For every dollar received from EDIP funds, Impressions will generate more than $16 in return capital investment for the city. That’s new money being reinvested in our local economy.”

The company may also qualify for tax abatement and a 90 percent business license tax rebate for 15 years, as well as reimbursement for city imposed construction-related fees associated with subdivision plats, building permits, site plan applications, and water and sewer connection fees.

“Companies like Impressions in Print are a perfect fit for APZ-1. In effect, we accomplish two things for the city. First, we appease mandates set forth by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission by relocating a conforming business to the area surrounding Oceana. Secondly, we free up buildings and land to bring new businesses to the area surrounding Town Center as set forth in the Pembroke Strategic Growth Area Implementation Plan,” said councilmember Louis Jones.  

The City of Virginia Beach established the Oceana Land Use Conformity Program to meet the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission’s mandates to slow growth and rollback encroachment surrounding Oceana Naval Air Base. The city, along with the Commonwealth of Virginia, contributes $7.5 million annually to fund the program. In return, the program provides incentives to relocate conforming businesses to and nonconforming business from APZ-1.

The mission of the City of Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to attract and retain national and international business and industry that results in the creation of new capital investment and jobs that increase the per capita income in the community. The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with a population of 440,908 and is the 42nd largest city in the United States. Virginia Beach has been recognized as having one of the 10 best economic development groups in the nation by Site Selection magazine. In 2006, Virginia Beach was named one of the 10 best big cities in America by Money magazine. In 2008, the Department of Economic Development received reaccreditation through the International Economic Development Council, one of only 25 economic development organizations in the world to have this recognition. For more information, visit yesvirginiabeach.com.

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