Growing cities have a healthy interest in economic development. More businesses moving in means more heat shrink sleeves getting sold which results in more jobs for locals and more money to be spent in the city. Most cities have an economic development office to encourage companies to settle there but Virginia Beach, Virginia goes one step further. Their economic development program helps companies fast track their setup process and get into business sooner. This guide should introduce you to the program and how it can help you.

The Fast Track program was founded in 1994. It's based on the recommendations of developers, business people, and city staff and is designed to help businesses who want to move or expand to Virginia Beach. Instead of doing everything yourself and it taking a year or more, you can let the city help you and get your building constructed and horse fences up in six months so you can start earning money. The fast track staff will even help you find a temporary location to work out of so you can keep going while your new facility is under construction.

How does fast track do this? By prioritizing and streamlining the process that lead shot manufacturers and other business people would have to go through to get the permits necessary to open up shop. Fast track staff also helps companies make their plans when they first arrive so that the time frame, budget, and location requirements are all met. The fast track program won't do your work for you, it's still up to you to interview and hire your contractors and architects and so on, but they will help make things faster and easier. Priority for everything from permits to inspections is given to fast tracked businesses.

So how do you get your new vacuum excavation project on the fast track roster? Assistance is available to businesses large and small, whether they're going to be buying city property or private property. Businesses do have to jump through a few hoops to be approved, though. You'll need nine different permits certifying you have everything from the right to post signs to the right to begin construction. City officials will also have to look at your site as well as your plans and approve them. The process takes about two and a half months altogether and fees from $30 to several thousand dollars for the different services.

If you're not sure which property you're going to buy with a private commercial mortgage to run your business, fast track can help with that too. On their website they have run downs of several choice locations, from industrial parks to shopping centers, you might want to consider. To see them, visit their website at www.vbgov.com/e-gov/business.