NEW YORK, NY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), a leading provider of travel and residential real estate services, will relocate its Car Rental Group’s Shared Services Center to the City of Virginia Beach, creating 187 new jobs for Virginians. Governor Warner met with Cendant officials at the company’s corporate headquarters during his economic development marketing mission to New York City this week.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Virginia-based Augusta Lumber Company will locate a new facility in King William County. Through a $5 million investment in facilities and inventory, the company will create 65 new jobs. Augusta Lumber is headquartered in Waynesboro, Virginia and currently operates four sawmills and a hardwood flooring plant in Virginia, employing 325 people across the state. Virginia successfully competed with Kentucky and West Virginia for the investment.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Grucci, one of the largest fireworks entertainment companies and pyrotechnic manufacturing firms in the world, plans to expand its existing manufacturing and distribution facility in the City of Radford. Through a $100,000 investment, the company will create 53 new jobs at its existing facility in the Radford Arsenal. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the Grucci family’s initial expansion.
MUNICH, GERMANY - Leica Microsystems, a German company, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) will highlight Leica’s success at SEMICON Europa this week. The company recently won the annual German Business Innovation Award in the medium-sized business category for its revolutionary high-resolution inspection and metrology products for the semiconductor industry. Leica invented a product that specialists considered impossible: a deep ultraviolet objective using “airspace technology,” that has an unlimited lifetime.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will invest $55 million to locate a regional distribution center in Rockingham County, creating 1,000 new jobs for the Shenandoah Valley. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility, to be located off Interstate 81 and north of State Road 682 in Mount Crawford, is projected to begin construction in the Spring of 2004 with planned service to stores expected in the Spring of 2005. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and Pennsylvania for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Sunrise Senior Living will expand its McLean-based corporate headquarters, creating more than 140 new jobs in Fairfax County. The new jobs come in conjunction with Sunrise’s announced plans to acquire Marriott Senior Living Services, Inc. The majority of the new jobs are ones that will transfer from Marriott’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Through a multi-million dollar investment, Sunrise is expanding its existing office space by 116,338 square feet to a total of 164,838 square feet.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Hudd Distribution – a Maersk Logistics Company - will expand its existing distribution facility in the City of Chesapeake’s Gateway Commerce Park. Hudd Distribution is a subsidiary of Maersk Logistics, one of the world’s leading logistics companies headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Through a $14 million investment, the company will create 260 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Georgia and South Carolina for the project.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Metalsa, a leading manufacturer of heavy truck rail frames, will expand its operations in Botetourt County. Through a $25 million investment, the company will create 70 new jobs and construct a 150,000-square-foot addition to its existing facility in the Vista Corporate Park. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania and Mexico for the project. Governor Warner met Steven Helgeson, Plant Manager of Metalsa Roanoke, during his recent marketing mission to the Detroit area.
RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner today announced a $60 million reinvestment by Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) in four existing Virginia manufacturing facilities that translates into 200 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Governor Warner met with Lear executives during his first domestic economic development mission to the Detroit area in January.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Philip Morris USA will move its corporate headquarters from New York City to the former Reynolds Metals corporate complex on West Broad Street in Henrico County. Through a major two-tier economic development project, Philip Morris USA will create 450 jobs at the new headquarters in Henrico County as well as invest more than $300 million in its manufacturing facility in the City of Richmond. Annual payroll at the headquarters location is estimated to be $83 million.