Our strategic location offers great access for customers and employees.
Nature’s Crossing Technology Center (NCTC) is located in Waynesboro, Virginia in the west central part of Virginia along the I-81 corridor in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Interstates 81 and 64 provide easy access to Washington DC (2.5 hours), Richmond (1.5 hours), east coast and mid-west markets, an outstanding transportation infrastructure, easy workforce commuting, and 14 colleges and universities.
Transportation Infrastructure
NCTC is situated between four railroads (Norfolk Southern, CSX Buckingham Branch, and Shenandoah Valley Rail Lines); five airports (including the local Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, Dulles International, Charlottesville, Richmond, and Roanoke); two ports (from the Inland Port of Virginia to the larger Port of Virginia), and both east/west and north/south interstates, capable of moving goods both nationally and internationally. Click to download our Transportation Infrastructure Map here.
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Market Proximity
The main entrance to NCTC on Delphine Avenue is less than ½ mile to I–64 exit 96. The secondary entrance on Oak Street is two miles from I–64 exit 94.
Our strategic location on two interstates offers one–day truck access to major East Coast and Mid-West markets including Boston, New York, Atlanta, and Detroit.
Link to download the Market Proximity Map.
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Workforce Commuting
The same highway system that provides easy access for product distribution provides quick access for the workforce. In the Shenandoah Valley, one minute equals one mile. The commuting patterns are easy, with the mean commute time significantly under the state and national time of 22 minutes and with many employees willing to travel over 45 minutes for outstanding opportunities. Our Workforce Availability Map shows the driving times and communities reached.
Site Description
NCTC is located at the SW intersection of I-64 exit 96 and Delphine Avenue, in the SE corner of the City of Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia. The park is a 170 acre site, currently wooded with some agriculture, bisected by the Norfolk and Southern main line. Main access is from Delphine Avenue with an at grade crossing of the Norfolk and Southern rail line. Secondary access is from Oak Lane. The “west” portion of the site is approximately 65 total acres with I-64 visibility and approximately 1,800 feet of South River frontage. The “east” portion is approximately 105 acres with I-64 visibility and approximately 2,000 feet of frontage along Delphine Avenue. The SE corner of the site is located at LAT 38° 02’ 25.06”N and LAN 78° 54’ 51.69” W. The site is served by City of Waynesboro water and sewer, Dominion Energy, Columbia Gas, and multiple telecommunications companies.
Full build out will yield approximately 1.4m SF of space with two 30-40 acre rail–served sites, a private rail siding, and other manufacturing or office facilities.
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Waynesboro
Located along the I81 corridor in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Waynesboro is an incorporated city with a growing population of over 21,000 and is part of the Staunton/Waynesboro MSA with a population of 140,000. An MSA fact sheet and top 50 MSA Employers are available to download.
The City has a strong industrial heritage that dates back to the mid-eighteen century and has included major employers such as General Electric, DuPont, and Mohawk Industries. Today, manufacturing still plays a vital role in the regional economy with major employers Lyrica Company (former DuPont/Invista), VIRTEX (PPI Time-Zero) and Berry Plastics located in the City, and Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, McKee Foods, and Target Distribution located just outside City limits. The region has a strong Food and Beverage cluster with a number of international firms.
From a quality-of-life standpoint, Waynesboro has a wealth of cultural and natural amenities, not the least of which is its proximity to Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail. Hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, horseback riding, and bicycling opportunities abound.
Another appealing element of the City is that its small-town charm is paired with big-city conveniences, such as national retail and restaurant outlets. Within city limits, shoppers will find Target, Kohl’s, Burlington, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart and more. This commercial district, located at exit 94 off I-64, also offers restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Panera Bread, Five Guys, Cracker Barrel, and Plaza Antigua.
Waynesboro’s historic downtown is situated alongside the tranquil South River, one of only two urban trout fisheries in the state. Try your hand at fly fishing or merely enjoy the paved Greenway Trail that follows the bends of the river for a lovely one-mile walk. Within downtown, explore the work of regional artists at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, P. Buckley Moss Gallery, and the historic Wayne Theatre. History buffs will enjoy the Waynesboro Heritage Museum and Plumb House Museum, which saw action during the Civil War. When you’re ready to recharge, locally owned restaurants and coffee shops are close at hand. In the evenings, catch national and regional performances at the newly renovated vaudeville-era Wayne Theatre. Tapping into Waynesboro’s rich natural history, the proposed Virginia Museum of Natural History campus will also occupy space downtown in the near future.
Waynesboro’s annual events and festivals bring pleasure to the whole family—from Riverfest, which celebrates the beauty and ecology of the South River, to the Fall Foliage Art Show, which turns the streets of downtown into a gallery for over 150 artists. Waynesboro Parks Department, which manages the six municipal parks including a leash-free dog park, makes sure there are plenty of family-friendly events year-round. Run the Valley races, outdoor concerts, fireworks, a kite-flying day—there’s always something on the calendar to look forward to.
History of City Involvement
In 2011, the City of Waynesboro made the strategic decision to acquire the land to create this next generation industrial park. It completed the purchase in 1Q2012. Prior to the purchase, a Phase One Environmental Assessment and preliminary Geo Technical Study were completed in 4Q2011. A preliminary engineering report (PER) was completed in 4Q2012, and a temporary access road was constructed. The City was successful in obtaining a VDOT “smart scale” grant to complete the main access road, which will connect to the current Shenandoah Village Drive and provide a connector road between I–64 exits 96 and 94. The “Southern Corridor” is currently being designed and is expected to be completed in 2023. Concurrently, the City is designing the water and waste water systems, and Dominion Energy, Columbia Gas, and several telecommunication companies are planning their installations to coincide with the road construction. When completed, NCTC will have full infrastructure and be considered a Tier Four site in the Virginia system. Updates on the Southern Corridor’s design and construction can be found here.