NORFOLK, Va. — Hampton Roads’ economy continues to expand, but Old Dominion University economists warn the region’s heavy dependence on federal spending could leave it vulnerable if Washington cuts budgets or slows hiring.

The 2025 State of the Region: Hampton Roads report, released Tuesday by the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at ODU’s Strome College of Business, finds the region has grown for four straight years and is expected to record a fifth in 2025.

The annual study, now in its 26th year, was authored by Dr. Robert McNab and Dr. Vinod Agarwal.

According to the report, Hampton Roads’ real gross domestic product increased 2.6 percent in 2024 and is projected to grow another 2 percent in 2025. The region also set records for labor force participation and employment l

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