ABSTRACT
In the ever increasing competitive environment for attracting footloose capital and new jobs, political jurisdictions at all spatial scales have been driven to offer economic development incentives. This chapter investigates the spatial distribution of Governor's Development Opportunity Fund (GOF) awards across Virginia at the sub-county or city level. There are several reasons why an examination of the distribution of regional economic development incentives is an important research question. The chapter contributes to the general call within geography for more applied geographical research in the policy area. Descriptive analysis using economic impact and the technology (GIS) can contribute to a better understanding of the spatial distribution of GOF awards and better inform policy decision-makers as to the likely effectiveness of their business incentive programmes. Details on GOF awards were collected through press release announcements tallied by the Division of Legislative Services of the Virginia General Assembly.
