RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Ardagh Group, a global manufacturer of containers for the food and beverage industry, will invest $93.5 million to establish a metal packaging manufacturing operation in a 525,000-square-foot facility in Roanoke County. Earlier this year Ardagh signed a long-term supply agreement with a major customer, ConAgra, requiring the company to add capacity in the eastern United States.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Hampton Farms, the leading roaster of in-shell peanuts in the United States, will invest $5.5 million to establish a peanut butter production plant in Southampton County. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 60 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Falls Stamping & Welding Company, a metal stamping company serving the automotive, trucking, and non-automotive markets, will invest $5.7 million to establish an operation in the Town of Pulaski in Pulaski County. The company will supply metal sub-assemblies to the Volvo Trucks plant in Dublin, Virginia through a major contract. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee for the project, which will create 112 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Steel Fab, a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Ltd., the largest family-owned metals processor and distributor in North America, will invest $1.5 million to establish a pressure tank production operation in the Town of Lebanon in Russell County. The project will create 50 new jobs and save 240 jobs for Virginia.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that W&B Fabricators, Inc., a manufacturer of mining machinery and equipment, will invest $3.1 million to establish an operation in Bland County. Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee and West Virginia for the project, which will create 50 new jobs.

Foreign trade zones allow businesses to defer paying U.S. Customs duties on imported goods held within the zones until the goods enter the United States for domestic consumption. No duties are paid if goods are re-exported. Companies also receive the benefit of not having to pay duties on broken or scrapped product. Businesses are allowed to store goods within FTZs for an unlimited period of time.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that North American Mold Technology (NAMT) will invest $4.35 million to establish a manufacturing operation in the City of Danville. The company will produce and refurbish the molds used in the manufacture of tires, creating 120 new jobs. Its customer base will include almost all major tire manufacturers in the U.S. Virginia successfully competed against Ohio for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Korona S.A., one of the largest producers of candles in the world, will invest $18.3 million to locate its first U.S. candle production facility in Pulaski County. The company, based in Poland, will create 170 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that Andreas Dressler will serve as Director of State of Virginia, Europe. Dressler succeeds Matthias Duys, who will retire after serving the Commonwealth for nearly 15 years.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Eastman Chemical Company will invest $40 million over the next three years to expand its manufacturing operation in Henry County. Eastman acquired the site in 2012 and became the leading global manufacturer of window films for the automotive and architectural markets. The company’s facility in Henry County is one of the largest and most integrated window and performance-coated film manufacturing sites in the world. The investment in Henry County is expected to create 25 new jobs.