U.S. Virgin Islands

With its close proximity to the US — 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida — the US Virgin Islands are easily accessible for both business and pleasure. The US Virgin Islands is an unincorporated US territory, and its residents are primarily US citizens.

Businesses come to the US Virgin Islands to take advantage of many benefits, including tax incentives and the security that comes from being under the jurisdiction of US federal law.

The history of the Caribbean islands is rich in culture and significance to all of the Americas. Native societies date back 1,000 years or more, with Ciboney, Carib, and Arawak tribes among the first known settlers. European colonization began with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, who made landfall on the north shore of St. Croix (Santa Cruz) in 1493, and named the islands “The Virgins” after “the legendary beauty of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins.”

US founding father Alexander Hamilton grew up and received his formative education in Christiansted on St. Croix. African slaves which figured so prominently in the islands’ sugar and cotton economy won emancipation on St. Croix in 1848 – long before the US Emancipation Proclamation – and their descendants have called the USVI home for generations and crafted a legacy of leadership across the region.

Several European powers laid claim to the territory, including Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, the Knights of Malta and Denmark, before the United States purchased the USVI in 1917. US citizenship was conferred shortly thereafter. Today, the principal islands of the USVI include St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island, and Hassel Island, among others.

First in commerce and first in freedom for all, the USVI holds a special place in the shared history of our hemisphere. Economic challenges are met with innovative responses for economic development. RTPark is such an outreach, helping businesses like yours establish successful operations in the USVI by leveraging support from UVI, the USVI government, and other commercial partners, and aligning our programs to US federal law. Working as your partner, we advance the scope of workforce opportunities for USVI residents while making it possible for your business to “make history here” as well.