RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Bechtel Corporation, one of the world’s largest engineering, construction and project management companies, will relocate its Global Operations headquarters from Maryland to Fairfax County. The company will also establish its Government Services group headquarters, a presence for its Civil business unit, and offices for several corporate functions and services, creating a total of 625 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., (GMCR) (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffeemakers, will establish a production and distribution facility in Isle of Wight County. The company will invest $180 million over the initial five-years of the facility’s operations.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Virginia has landed a collaborative project to establish a facility for the testing and certification of large offshore and land-based electricity-producing wind turbines. The project, called Poseidon Atlantic, will be the first such facility in the United States and will help fill a growing need globally for facilities that test and certify wind turbines. The initial phase of the project is to be developed on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in Northampton County.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Albany Industries, Inc. will invest $2.5 million to establish its first Virginia operation in the City of Galax. The company, which manufactures upholstered household furniture, will create 335 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Backcountry.com, the largest online specialty retailer of premium outdoor gear, will invest more than $20 million to establish a fulfillment center in Montgomery County. The Utah-based company’s east-coast presence, which will be located in Falling Branch Corporate Park, will create more than 200 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky and Pennsylvania for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML), a leading global automotive supplier, plans to invest $10 million to expand its existing 275,000-square-foot automotive engine bearing manufacturing facility located at Blacksburg Industrial Park. The company’s investment will provide for the installation of additional manufacturing lines and equipment, driving the creation of 50 new jobs in Montgomery County.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Axxor Group, a Netherlands-based company that designs, produces, and sells honeycomb made from paper and water-based glues, will invest $4.96 million to establish its first U.S. operation, Axxor N.A., in Pittsylvania County. The company, which will be located in the Ringgold East Industrial Park, will enter the U.S. market to supply honeycomb core that is used in IKEA subsidiary Swedwood North America’s product line.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Ace Hardware Corp., the largest hardware franchise company in the world, will invest $14 million to establish an East Coast import re-distribution center in the City of Suffolk. The company selected a 336,000-square-foot build-to-suit location at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Suffolk. This project will create 75 new jobs over the next 36 months, and service the company’s existing East Coast regional distribution centers, including its operation in Prince George County.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Microsoft Corp. will invest $150 million to expand their generation data center (Gen4) site in Mecklenburg County. The company will build an additional facility and add 21 MW of electric power capacity to the site. The project will create 10 new jobs. Microsoft’s original project in 2010 involved an investment of up to $499 million and 50 new jobs.

RICHMOND - The Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that it has unanimously selected Martin J. Briley as VEDP President and CEO following a six-month national search. Briley has served as Executive Director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development (PWC ED) since 1997. Possessing 25 years of experience in national and international business development and management, Briley is a results-driven leader nationally recognized as a consensus builder, skilled negotiator, and deal closer.