RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that LASCO Bathware, Inc. will invest $1.7 million to expand in Halifax County. The company, which will expand its manufacturing operation to include an additional line of upscale bathware marketed under their “Aquatic” label, will create 50 jobs and save an existing 280 jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Michigan, Texas and Washington for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Harris Teeter, Inc., will invest $101 million to open a food distribution operation in King George County, creating 335 jobs. The facility will service existing storefronts in the Virginia market and expand service in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project. 

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Harris Teeter, Inc., will invest $101 million to open a food distribution operation in King George County, creating 335 jobs. The facility will service existing storefronts in the Virginia market and expand service in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that fitness company Nautilus, Inc. will invest $1.7 million to expand in Grayson County. The company, which will expand its manufacturing operation to add a cardio exercise equipment line, will create 60 jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Oregon and China for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Continental AG, a leading global automotive supplier, will transfer its South Carolina manufacturing operations to its Newport News facility, creating 318 new jobs. The consolidation will combine the diesel and gasoline fuel injector manufacturing operations into a single location. The company will invest $194 million to relocate diesel fuel injector manufacturing as well as expand the existing gasoline fuel injector business line.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today kicked off his Renew Virginia initiative, which will include legislative and executive actions to make Virginia a leader in energy conservation and efficiency and protecting the environment.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Sabra Dipping Company will open a state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County, and bring new jobs to the area. The plant will make the award-winning Sabra branded dips and spreads, including the country’s best-selling Sabra hummus and vegetable dips. Current projections estimate 260 new jobs will result from the facility, beginning in mid 2010. Virginia successfully competed against two other states for the project. 

RICHMOND - Virginia service companies now have access to a free online outlet to promote their services to overseas clients. Called Virginia’s Service Export Network, the Web site (www.exportvirginia.org/Virginias-Service-Export-Network/) was created to link Virginia sellers to buyers, regardless of where the buyer may be located.

The Web site, created by the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), provides a searchable database of companies, highlights registered companies and posts news and events related to international business.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that AREVA and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation, will invest $363.4 million to partner in a joint venture to manufacture equipment and pressure vessels for the nuclear industry and to provide nuclear engineering services. The new company, AREVA Newport News LLC, which will be established in Newport News, will create 540 new production and engineering jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina and Tennessee for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), an Indian government-sponsored association of information technology exporters, will establish a U.S. presence at George Mason University’s Mason Enterprise Center for Regional Analysis and Entrepreneurship (MEC). ESC has chosen five Indian technology companies to open their offices in the MEC’s International Business Accelerator later this month. The companies are expected to create 60 high-paying jobs within three years.