SHANGHAI, CHINA - Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that the Henrico County Economic Development Authority has opened an office in Shanghai, China, in efforts to recruit Chinese companies and encourage partnerships between Chinese firms and Henrico businesses.

“I am pleased to see Henrico County take this step,” Governor Warner said. “The county can play a pioneering role among Virginia localities in pursuing business opportunities in China’s dynamic economy,” said Governor Warner. 

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that RJJ Tire Co., Inc. will locate a tire recycling facility in Shenandoah County. RJJ Tire will move its existing operation and seven employees from adjoining Frederick County, investing $3.1 million and creating 28 additional jobs. The Commonwealth successfully competed with West Virginia for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will expand its James City County distribution facility in the GreenMount Industrial Park. Through a $28.5 million investment, the company will create 125 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania and Maryland for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Ride-Away Corporation, a New Hampshire-based manufacturer of modified vehicles for disabled persons, will locate two new offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. By way of a $1.3 million investment, the first of the two projects will create 20 new jobs in the City of Richmond. The office will be located at 232 East Belt Boulevard and open by June 1, 2004. In the City of Norfolk, the second project will create 25 new jobs over the next 30 months through a $1 million investment.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Microwave Circuits, Inc., a manufacturer of components for communications equipment, has decided to relocate its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to the City of Lynchburg. Through a $2.1-million investment, the company will create 200 new, high-paying jobs for Lynchburg. Located in the Kemper Building in downtown Lynchburg, Microwave Circuits will manufacture its new, patent pending technology for use in homeland security and Department of Defense applications.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Virginia Credit & Finance, a servicing partner of Roanoke-based Atlantic Credit & Finance, will locate in Henrico County. The company will invest $1 million and create 150 new jobs over the next two years. Virginia Credit & Finance will operate its debt collection and call center operation at 2810 N. Parham Road, Suite 310. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner announced that GEO-CENTERS, INC. will locate a research facility in Prince William County’s INNOVATION @ Prince William Technology Business Park. The project will create 10-15 initial jobs. The location in INNOVATION @ Prince William provides a unique opportunity for GEO-CENTERS to conduct research along a broad array of biotechnological areas.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Windsor Mill, a northern California-based manufacturer of premium wood siding and trim, will locate a facility in Surry County. The project will create 70 new jobs over the next 30 months. Through a $6-million investment, Windsor Mill will locate in the Surry County Shell Building in the Surry West Business Center. The company plans to double the size of the existing 60,000-square-foot shell building. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project.

HENRICO COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies Richmond will move forward with long-delayed plans to expand its Henrico County facility and produce 300-mm wafers. The company first announced an earlier version of the project with the Commonwealth in 2000, but market conditions delayed the expansion. In the first build-out phase, Infineon will add 800 jobs in Richmond -- and when fully built out, the expansion will create a total of 1,200 new jobs with an investment exceeding $1 billion.

PORTSMOUTH - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced APM Terminals’ decision to build the country’s first major, privately developed container terminal on the Elizabeth River in the City of Portsmouth. Through an investment of $450 million, the project will create 210 new jobs. This announcement is the single largest private dollar investment in Hampton Roads and one of the largest on record in Virginia. The new terminal will help maintain Hampton Roads' position as the leading East Coast port for the newest and largest cargo ships.