Christopher Lloyd
Senior Vice President and Director
Christopher Lloyd
Senior Vice President and Director
Infrastructure & Economic Development
Richmond, VA
Overview
Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team where he specializes in site selection and economic development incentives negotiations. Since 1998, Chris has provided holistic site selection and incentives negotiation services to dozens of high profile, corporate expansions and relocations across the country.
Chris has also been the principal architect of state public-private partnership legislation now used around the country to speed infrastructure development as well as authored successful legislation to modernize state economic development agencies. As a result of this work, Chris is a frequent speaker on the intersection of economic development best practices and policy.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Chris served for nearly five years in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governors Allen and Wilder. In this position, he was responsible for legislative, budgetary, and regulatory coordination and development within that Secretariat which managed the state’s economic development programs.
Chris graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1993. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Megan, and two children.
Services
Experience
- Site selection and incentives negotiations (including passage of legislation amending an existing incentive program) for the headquarters relocation of one of the world’s largest hotel companies. The firm has continued to support the company with public affairs representation, incentives compliance, and through subsequent corporate expansions.
- Site selection, incentives negotiations, public policy activities, and incentives compliance for dozens of hyperscale and colocation data center projects and developers across multiple states representing nearly $100 billion in capital investment and thousands of new jobs.
- Site selection and incentives negotiations for the development of four aircraft maintenance and repair operations (MRO) facilities for the leading corporate jet manufacturer. Additional services include incentives compliance and public affairs support.
Affiliations
- Co-chair, Abigail Spanberger Commerce & Trade: Economic Development & Small Business Committee
- Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame, May 2025
- Board of Directors, Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP), 2025 – present
- Corporate Associate Member, SIOR
- Member, Site Selectors Guild, 2014-present; Chairman, 2021-2022; Marketing Committee, 2015; Board Advisor, 2016; Board of Directors, 2016-present
- Member, Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, 2019-present; Co-chair, Business Climate Task Force, 2020-present
- Member, Virginia Economic Developers Association, 1999-present; Legislative Chair, 2000-present; Board of Directors, 2002-2004
- Board and Executive Committee Member, RVA-757 Connects, 2019-present
- Member, Transatlantic Business Investment Council Advisory Board, 2019-present
- Member, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Advisors Council, 2019-present
- Member, 2008-2016; Vice President of Membership, 2012, National Council for Public Private Partnerships
- Board of Directors, Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2003-2009
- Member, Chamber RVA Richmond Marine Terminal Task Force, 2016-2017
- Member, International Economic Development Council, 2008-present
- Member, Working Group on Revisions to the Model PPEA Guidelines, 2005-present
- Member, Infrastructure Working Group, Attorney General's Regulatory Reform Commission, 2008-2009
- Co-Chair; 10th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2002-2003; 15th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2008; 20th Reunion Gift Committee Co-chair, 2012-2013, The Fund for William and Mary
- Member, PPEA Ethical and Conflicts Working Group to the HJR 186 Subcommittee, 2005
- Associate Member, Virginia Road and Transportation Builders Association, 2001-2005
- Board of Directors, Oaks at Crossridge Homeowners Association, 2004-2005
- Member, 1993-1998; Vice Chair, 1997, Young Guarde Council of the Society of the Alumni of the College of William and Mary
- Member, Advisory Committee on the Center of Innovative Technology to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, 2002-2003
Publications
Speaking & Presentations
- Presenter, The Politics of Water and Economic Development, CIFA Summit on Water Infrastructure, April 9, 2026
- Presenter, National Trends Impacting the KC Regional Economy, KC Smartport Board of Directors, April 1, 2026
- Presenter, Why is Virginia so Different?, 757 Leads Group of the Hampton Roads Chamber, March 27, 2026
- Presenter, National Trends Impacting Data Center Development, Onward New River Valley Data Center Summit at Virginia Tech and Comptrollers Executive Roundtable in Richmond, VA, March 19, 2026
- Presenter, "National Trends Impacting the Florida Economy – 7 Charts," St. Pete Economic Development Corp.’s Annual Meeting, St. Pete EDC, February 18, 2026
- Featured Guest, "Data center summit looks to clear up misconceptions," WDBJ7 News, January 14, 2026
- Featured Guest, "Future of Data Centers in Virginia," WSLS10 News, January 14, 2026
- Presenter, "Emerging Industries Summit: Data Centers," Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, January 14, 2026
- Presenter, "Mobility and Economic Development," The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, October 30, 2025
- Speaker, "Policy and Project Trends in Economic Development," Southern Municipal Conference, October 23, 2025
Updates & Insights
