Israeli-founded companies generate $2.3 billion for Virginia economy, study finds
These companies are creating opportunities for thousands in the state, ranging from defense and life science sectors to agriculture and advanced manufacturing.
A new study suggests that Israeli-founded companies have become a meaningful economic force inside Virginia’s economy, bringing thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of value to the state.
According to the 2025 Virginia-Israel Economic Impact Report, published by the United States-Israel Business Alliance (USIBA), 119 Israeli-founded firms operating in the Commonwealth generated $2.3 billion in economic output during 2024 and were responsible for 7,847 total jobs once supply-chain and household-spending effects are included.
The study maps how Israeli-linked commercial activity is distributed throughout Virginia’s 11 congressional districts. Chesterfield County came out leading the pack, recording 2,351 jobs tied to these companies.
The report identifies three “Priority Growth Sectors”: agriculture, life sciences, and defense. The presence in defense is already well established, as Fairfax County alone hosts 38 of the world’s top 100 defense companies, but the study argues that agriculture and life sciences represent underdeveloped opportunities for Israeli firms that could scale.
“Life sciences, agriculture, deep tech and especially defense have tremendous potential to attract hundreds of millions dollars in investment in Virginia that bring thousands more jobs and innovation to our communities,” says Dov Hoch, executive director of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board.
One recent example: Israeli-founded Elbit America’s decision earlier this month to expand its Roanoke County facility with a $30 million additional investment and 288 new jobs, bringing its total Virginia workforce to more than 1,000 employees.
Aaron Kaplowitz, president of USIBA, attributed the sustained growth of Virginia’s Israeli-founded company cohort to local conditions that appeal to Israeli founders.
“Virginia’s highly educated tech workforce, proximity to ports and interstates, and strategic commitment to innovation offer a compelling combination of resources to Israeli founders,” he said. “And based on our analysis, we believe that the Virginia-Israel commercial relationship is just getting started.”
