City of Staunton

June 29, 2026 – The City of Staunton’s Economic Development department has earned a prestigious international Web Excellence Award for its newly redesigned business portal, StauntonBusiness.com. The award recognizes excellence in web development and digital communication, highlighting the city’s transition to a modern, strategic digital asset.

The platform overhaul directly fulfills a high-priority initiative in the City Council’s Strategic Plan (The Staunton Plan), which explicitly directed staff to complete the city's Economic Development website update to strengthen the city’s economic vitality.

"Our Strategic Plan focuses heavily on supporting our existing businesses, building upon the incredible success of our downtown, and attracting new industries and housing growth," said Deputy City Manager Amanda DiMeo. "This award-winning website directly reflects that vision. By removing barriers for site selectors and local entrepreneurs, we are turning our digital presence into an active driver of economic growth."

Transforming the Digital Experience

Built from the ground up, StauntonBusiness.com aligns with how modern business decision-makers, developers, and site selectors research locations.

Key enhancements include:

• Direct Property Integration: Features seamless, direct integration with the Virginia Scan property database, allowing prospective investors to search available commercial properties without leaving the site.
• Streamlined Pathways: Uses intentional, user-centered navigation to guide visitors straight to critical economic data, community assets, and regional advantages.
• Promotion of Local Incentives: Offers dedicated resources to easily navigate and leverage the city's recently updated Enterprise Zone incentives program.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Eliminates technical barriers, allowing city staff to efficiently update market data and property listings so the site remains accurate and scalable.

Data-Driven Accountability

In alignment with Council directives to measure success, the Economic Development team will actively monitor user engagement, property search data, and lead generation, reporting progress to City Council on a regular basis.

To explore the new website and learn more about business opportunities in the Queen City, visit StauntonBusiness.com.