Business View Civil and Municipal | March 2021

162 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MARCH 2021 www.ira-realty.com 888-683-7788 www.thefallsbristolvirginia.com biggest commercial hub within a 100-mile radius. The community still benefits from transportation infrastructure. It’s located within an eight-hour drive of about 75 percent of the U.S. population thanks to the Interstate highway system. Bristol sits right along Interstate 81, which runs north all the way to the Canadian border. I-81 also provides access to a number of other highways that help connect the region. Businesses that need large tracts of land tend to locate in the area around Bristol, because the city itself is only 13 square miles. But there are a few major manufacturing operations within those limits. One is Strongwell, a company started in 1965 that now produces fiber reinforced polymer products for customers across the globe. Strongwell has four locations, but its headquarters and largest manufacturing facility is located in Bristol. Dominion Carton, a full-service box design, fabrication, printing, and fulfillment company, is headquartered in Bristol. Air purification company Aerus LLC, formerly Electrolux, has a location in the city, as does the snack food manufacturing company, Shearer’s. There is also an array of small businesses in and around Bristol. The region is a haven for artisans that produce handcrafted goods. The city is known for its restaurants, breweries, and even a distillery. Owners of those businesses meet with city and state officials on a monthly basis to discuss workforce development. Partnerships extend into the local education system, where high schools try to develop curriculums that can teach the skills and provide the certifications needed in the region.