One of the first corporations to be established in America was _____.

The Virginia Company is recognized as one of the first corporations to be established in America, founded in 1606. This joint-stock company was created to establish settlements in the New World and played a crucial role in the early colonization of North America, particularly in what is now Virginia. It allowed investors to pool their resources in hopes of making a profit from the colonies, which was a novel concept at the time and set the precedent for corporate structures in the United States.

The other options listed, while important in history, do not hold the same corporate status as the Virginia Company. Benjamin Franklin's printing business was significant in its own right, but it was not structured as a corporation in the same way. The Old Grist Mill is more of a reference to a type of business rather than a specific corporation with substantial historical impact similar to the Virginia Company. Therefore, the Virginia Company stands out as the correct answer due to its foundational role in establishing corporate entities in America.