MARTINSVILLE - Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Eastman Chemical Company, a global advanced materials and specialty additives company, will invest $11.7 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Henry County. The company will add a new equipment line within its Performance Films business, which will provide additional capacity in growing the global market for paint protection and window film sold under Eastman’s portfolio of brands. Eastman has film production sites in other areas of the U.S.

Company to invest $350,000 to establish new Fleet Operating Center

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Aeronyde Corporation, an industry leader in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) into a safe and secure full-service commercial drone system, will invest $350,000 to establish a new drone operations command and control center in the City of Covington. Virginia successfully competed with California and Florida for the project, which will create 25 new jobs. 

Company to relocate warehouse operations

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that SRP Companies, a leading supplier to more than 60,000 retailers nationwide, will invest $1.16 million to relocate a substantial portion of its warehouse operations from Philadelphia, Utah, and Oklahoma to the City of Virginia Beach.

In partnership with the National Center For Economic Gardening (NCEG), Virginia's statewide Economic Gardening program provides qualifying second-stage companies with custom resources to identify and resolve distinct growth challenges that traditional business assistance and incentives do not address. 

Eligible companies will receive customized services from a team of research specialists, including, but not limited to:

Company to expand its headquarters operation

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that DroneUp, a web and mobile platform for on-demand drone pilot services, will invest $130,000 to expand its headquarters operation in Virginia Beach. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project, which will create 41 new jobs.

Company to invest $57.8 million to establish new walk-in step van assembly operation in former IKEA plant

DANVILLE—Governor Ralph Northam announced today that Morgan Olson, LLC, North America’s leading manufacturer of all-aluminum walk-in step vans, will invest $57.8 million to establish a new walk-in step van assembly operation in a 925,000-square-foot plant in Danville-Pittsylvania County currently owned by IKEA. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio for the project, which will create 703 new jobs.

NEWPORT NEWS - Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Ferguson, the largest plumbing wholesaler in the U.S., will invest $82.8 million to expand its headquarters operation in the City of Newport News, retaining more than 1,000 jobs and creating 434 new jobs. The company will create an additional campus at City Center at Oyster Point for its information technology (IT) workforce and other corporate functions. Virginia successfully competed against several other states for the project.

Company to expand research and development operation

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK), a leading global healthcare company, will invest $16.7 million to expand its consumer healthcare research and development center in the City of Richmond. GSK chose Virginia as one of three R&D laboratory hubs for their global Consumer Healthcare business and plans to add approximately 150 new jobs at the site.