RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that 10 Virginia healthcare companies will market their products and services at Arab Health 2016, the largest healthcare exhibition and conference in the Middle East, and the second largest in the world. The 2016 exhibition will showcase more than 4,000 companies exhibiting their latest innovations to more than 130,000 healthcare professionals attending from 163 countries. Arab Health 2016 will be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, January 25 – 28.

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Printpack, one of the largest flexible packaging converters in the United States, will invest $25.7 million to expand its manufacturing operation in the City of Newport News. Virginia successfully competed against Missouri for the project, which will create 50 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that San Francisco-based Shift Technologies (Shift) will invest $20 million to establish its first East Coast operation in Arlington County. The project will create 100 new, high-tech jobs and is a direct result of the Governor’s meeting with company officials in California during his West Coast marketing mission in September 2015.

RICHMOND - Twelve companies from across the Commonwealth graduated from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program, touting impressive results from their newly acquired tools to successfully export products and services overseas. The graduating companies were recognized by Governor McAuliffe during a luncheon at the downtown Omni Hotel today.

RICHMOND - Governor McAuliffe today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). AFRICOM is one of six geographic combatant commands in the Department of Defense and is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations. 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Starsprings, a privately-held spring and spring-unit manufacturer based in Sweden, will invest $3.7 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Henry County. The company will supply mattress units used in long-distance trucking. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 68 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Kingspan Insulation, LLC, a subsidiary of Ireland-based Kingspan Group PLC, will invest $25 million to upgrade its manufacturing operation in Frederick County. In November 2014 Kingspan acquired Pactiv LLC’s Building Products division, which included the manufacturing plant. The company will invest in plant upgrades and new equipment, creating 15 new jobs. 

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the launch of a new resource portal to help Virginia’s defense-related companies go global. The online portal was created through Virginia’s Going Global Defense Initiative (GGDI), the Commonwealth’s only program that secures new revenue streams for Virginia’s defense companies in face of declining U.S. Department of Defense spending, which in turn preserves jobs and replaces declining state tax revenues for Virginia. 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Harris Teeter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), will invest $95 million to establish a 1.5 million-square-foot food distribution operation in Caroline County, of which the first phase will be at least 650,000 square feet. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project, which will create 400 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today the 50th anniversary of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). Created in 1965 as part of the Industrial Training division of the Virginia Community College System, the program provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs or experiencing technological change. As a business development incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource development costs of new and expanding companies.