International companies like Infineon, Boehringer and Dynax represent the wave of the future for Virginia's economy, says Mark R. Kilduff, executive director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. "Japan is the largest single foreign investor in Virginia, but we also have a lot of international activity that is generated by the direct international flights coming into Virginia's airports," says Kilduff. "Plus, Gov. Gilmore speaks German, and that has been a major help for us."
      Kilduff says the challenge for his agency is to increase its level of aggressiveness during a slowing economy. "We have invested very heavily into technology in our economic development marketing," he notes. "We can show a prospective corporate client virtually any site anywhere in our state, with complete community demographic data available at the click of a mouse. But the first thing we must do is market ourselves even harder."
      One tool the state is using to promote itself is a new Web site -- www.YesVirginia.org -- that was unveiled on July 13. "By highlighting the Commonwealth's assets and asking prospective companies to compare Virginia to other states, we are making a bold competitive statement," Gov. Gilmore noted.