By capitalizing on our unique assets, Portsmouth has brought about a thriving economic environment, brimming with opportunities, reminiscent of the potential foreseen by leaders in our colonial birth. Investment initiatives have positioned Portsmouth as a great discovery for industries of all types and we offer a wealth of opportunities for businesses focused on their futures including: pro-business development leadership;  available retail, office and industrial/warehouse space and residential development;  Deepwater Harbor where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean;  an economic incentive programs including Empowerment, Enterprise, Foreign Trade, Historic Tax Credit, HUBZones and Interstate Access.

Portsmouth is a global transportation hub centrally located within a 30-minute drive of the entire region.  With its road and rail infrastructure, Portsmouth is readily accessible from all four directions. Major north-south corridors of I-95 and I-85 are just west of the city, linking with Hampton Roads' well-planned system of roads. The city is minutes from Norfolk International Airport.

The Portsmouth Marine Terminal, part of the Port of Hampton Roads and owned by the Virginia Port Authority, is a 220-acre facility handling containerized and break-bulk cargo. At this Foreign Trade Zone-designated terminal, CSX and Norfolk Southern, via the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, offer direct rail service from the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for transportation throughout the east. Motor carriers and common carrier terminals – 175 carriers and 150 terminals – help transport goods from the port of entry to a well-connected system of interstate highways.

Commuters are served by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Pedestrian ferry crosses the Elizabeth River daily between Portsmouth and Norfolk.   Companies have cited the transportation infrastructure as the major deciding factor in locating or expanding in the region.