RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that AT&T Wireless will locate an inbound calling center in Russell County. Through a $5.4 million investment, AT&T Wireless will hire more than 300 employees to handle billing, coverage, technical and general support questions for its customers. The project was originally announced in July 2001 by TeleCorp PCS, Inc. AT&T Wireless, which subsequently acquired TeleCorp PCS, Inc., will move forward with the project, increasing the original investment by $850,000.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced the award of a $3.2 million research grant that will allow the Institute for Computational Genomics, Inc. (INCOGEN), the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech (VBI) to create a cooperative bioinformatics program. INCOGEN will invest $2.4 million to relocate from South Carolina to the Busch Corporate Center in James City County.
NORFOLK - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co., Inc. has officially opened its United States headquarters in Norfolk’s Lake Wright Executive Park. Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. announced in April that it would invest $6.2 million to locate in the new building and would hire 235 people to work in this facility. The firm completed its move to Norfolk from New York City’s World Trade Center two weeks before the September 11th terrorist attacks.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Alfa Laval will expand its operations in Henrico County with the addition of a new valve and pump manufacturing facility. The $10 million expansion will be adjacent to the company’s current facility in the International Business Park. Alfa Laval presently employs approximately 250 people in the Richmond area and will create 100 new jobs with this expansion.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Centrivity, a start-up technology company, will locate its operations in Herndon, Virginia. Through an initial commitment of approximately $3 million from its founders, Centrivity will initially employ 45 people. Within three years of operation, it is expected that employment will grow to more than 300 employees. Centrivity is associated with a portfolio of companies, including Digicon Corporation, which is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that AFFINA has selected Bridgeway Commerce Park in Suffolk as the site for its new 40,000-square-foot customer contact center. Through an investment of $5 million, this center will support the expansion of 1-800-MEDICARE. The AFFINA contact center will employ up to 450 individuals. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for this investment.
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that ASTROLINK International LLC, a next generation global broadband wireless service company will locate its Network Operations Center (NOC) in the INNOVATION @ Prince William Technology Park. ASTROLINK will invest approximately $205 million in the new center, and could employ as many as 250 people. Virginia successfully competed with several other states for this investment.
Dublin, Ireland - During his European trade mission, Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Travelocity.com will locate a call center in the Dickenson County Technology Park. Travelocity.com provides real time travel reservations for Internet customers. This new project will create 500 new jobs through an investment of $2.27 million.
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore and First Lady Roxane Gilmore, accompanied by key state economic development and tourism professionals, will lead a trade, tourism and investment mission to Europe from April 21 to May 4, 2001. The mission will promote Virginia as a thriving business center and exciting tourist destination. High-level meetings with key business executives in Germany and the United Kingdom will help facilitate positive decisions for Virginia with active business recruitment projects.
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that ERNI Components, Inc. will expand its operation in the Rivers Bend Center in Chesterfield County. The expansion will create 550 new jobs and the company will invest $98.4 million to complete this project. Virginia successfully competed with Nevada for the investment.
"The Commonwealth's pro-business environment is vital to the satisfaction of our existing companies," said Governor Gilmore. "ERNI's decision to embark on such a major expansion is a testament to Virginia's success in this area."