RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Porter’s Group, LLC, a leader in fabricated metal products, has acquired a manufacturing location and assets in the City of Lynchburg and will establish its first Virginia operation. The company will invest an additional $1.8 million to upgrade the facility to produce fabricated metal products such as safes and related products and parts, creating 120 new jobs.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, will invest $96.2 million to expand and upgrade its Lipton Tea manufacturing plant in the City of Suffolk. This investment enables facility upgrades and the purchase of new production machinery for the largest tea processing facility in the United States. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Shamrock Farms, one of the largest family-owned-and-operated dairies in the U.S., will build a $50 million dairy manufacturing facility in Augusta County. The project will create 60 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland and West Virginia for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Red Sun Farms, a producer of high-quality hydroponic vegetables, will invest a total of $30 million to establish its first U.S. high-technology greenhouse production operation in Pulaski County. The company will erect climate controlled greenhouses on 45 acres of land in the New River Valley Commerce Park to grow quality greenhouse grown vegetables, creating 205 new jobs within five years. Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Hollister Incorporated, a global company that develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, will invest $29.6 million to upgrade machinery and expand its manufacturing plant in Augusta County. The company will add 50,000 square feet of warehouse space and new equipment to automate processes with robotics and high-technology equipment, enhance products, and increase production volume. Virginia successfully competed against Ireland for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Greencore Group plc, an Ireland-based, leading international manufacturer of convenience foods, will invest $5.75 million to expand its first Virginia food processing facility in Stafford County following the April 2012 acquisition of the former Marketfare Foods, LLC. In addition to servicing Marketfare Foods’ principal customer of 20 years, 7-Eleven, Greencore will also service a significant new contract from the Stafford County operation, creating 350 new jobs.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that The WhiteWave Foods Company (“WhiteWave”) (NYSE:WWAV), a consumer packaged food and beverage company with leading brands in plant-based foods and beverages, coffee creamers and beverages and premium dairy products, will invest $69.8 million to expand its operation in the town of Mount Crawford in Rockingham County. The plant currently manufactures Silk®, Horizon Organic®, International Delight® and LAND O LAKES® products. Virginia successfully competed against Texas for the project.
SHANGHAI, CHINA - Governor Bob McDonnell today attended the signing of a contract between YingLi, a distributor that specializes in e-commerce channel and high-end retailers, and Yihaodian, the fastest-growing integrated e-commerce company, 51 percent owned by Wal-Mart, with more than 30 million registered users in China, to sell Virginia-based Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. (Hamilton Beach) products. Hamilton Beach has been a leading small appliance company in the U.S. for more than 100 years and has had some products available in the Chinese market since mid-2012.
The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s business and economic development financing arm.
VSBFA provides businesses and localities with debt financing resources for economic development projects and other small business and entrepreneurial financing needs. VSBFA’s definition of “small business” is $10 million or less in annual revenues over each of the last three years, or a gross net worth less than $2 million; or 250 employees or fewer in Virginia; or qualification as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity.
TOKYO, JAPAN - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that JTI Leaf Services will invest $7.5 million in new tobacco processing technology at its facility in Danville. The facility employs more than 270 full-time and seasonal individuals. The Governor will meet with Japan Tobacco officials in Tokyo and express his appreciation for the expansion.