Global toy manufacturer of the iconic and beloved LEGO® brick to invest more than $1 billion in 1.7 million-square-foot precision manufacturing plant creating over 1,760 new jobs

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that the LEGO Group will invest over $1 billion to construct its U.S. manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County. The company will construct a new 1.7 million-square-foot precision manufacturing facility in Meadowville Technology Park, which will create over 1,760 new jobs.

Rendering of the new LEGO Group Facility

Rendering of the LEGO Group Facility in Meadowville Technology Park

“The LEGO Group’s decision to establish its U.S. manufacturing plant in Virginia shines a global spotlight on the advantages that make the Commonwealth the best business location in the nation, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with this iconic company,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This transformational project will create more than 1,760 jobs and bolster Virginia’s manufacturing industry, which continues its renaissance with major investments by high-caliber corporate partners like the LEGO Group. Thank you to the Senate and House leadership in partnering with our team in this process.”

Rendering of the Entrance to the new LEGO Group Facility

Rendering of the Entrance to the LEGO Group Facility in Meadowville Technology Park

“The LEGO brand is a beloved brand for families across the world, their substantial investment and the creation of over 1,760 new jobs is a tremendous win for Virginia and Chesterfield County,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “The Commonwealth’s commitment to infrastructure, education, and workforce is paying dividends, and we are confident the company will benefit from these efforts as it ramps up its U.S. manufacturing plant. We are thrilled to welcome the LEGO Group to Virginia and look forward to the company’s growth in the Commonwealth and the U.S.

Rendering of the LEGO Group Facility in Meadowville Technology Park

Rendering of the LEGO Group Facility in Meadowville Technology Park

Niels B. Christiansen, CEO, the LEGO Group, said, “We were impressed with all that Virginia has to offer, from access to a skilled workforce, support for high-quality manufacturers, and great transport links. We appreciate support for our ambition to build a carbon-neutral run facility and construct a solar park and are looking forward to building a great team with support from the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.”

The LEGO Group Announcement Numbers

“The LEGO Group’s decision to expand its operations with a manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County is a testament to our Commonwealth’s highly skilled, capable workforce and the strength of Virginia’s economy,” said Rep. A. Donald McEachin (VA-04). “This expansion will provide important opportunities for Virginians, creating over 1,700 new jobs in my district and stimulating economic activity in the Greater Richmond area. I look forward to the LEGO Group’s success here in the Commonwealth.”

“I am so pleased to hear that the LEGO Group will be investing a whopping $1 billion to build a new manufacturing plant at the Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield, Virginia,” said Senator Joseph Morrissey. “The over 1,760 jobs that will be created will be a breath of fresh air for the residents of Chesterfield and the surrounding localities. Lastly, I would like to personally thank both Governor Youngkin as well as the LEGO Group for making this joint decision to invest in Central Virginia.”

The LEGO Group Site in Meadowville Technology Park

The LEGO Group Site in Meadowville Technology Park

Meadowville Technology Park is a premiere, master-planned, publicly owned industrial park located in business-friendly Chesterfield County, Virginia. The park sits at the junction of Interstate 295 and the historic James River. Meadowville Technology Park is one of Virginia’s largest, most innovative and most connected employment centers. Learn more at Meadowville.com

“I am thrilled to have the LEGO Group join our Meadowville community of businesses and residents, and I am excited for the opportunities the LEGO Group brings for high-quality jobs and economic growth in our area,” said Delegate Carrie Coyner. “We strive to be the best place to live, work, and play, and I couldn’t think of a better company to join us with its mission focused on the power of play and its commitment to over 1,700 new jobs.”

“The LEGO Group not only has one of the most accessible, fun, and engaging products that help our children learn, but also bring values such as caring deeply for their employees, environmental sustainability, and innovation to reach the highest quality in everything they do,” said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Winslow. “We look forward to this marvelous addition to our community. The county also has an award-winning public education system, a skilled workforce, and outstanding training programs that will lead to exceptional job opportunities for a large number of our residents. We simply cannot be more excited by this announcement.”

“Everything is indeed awesome about the LEGO Group selecting Greater Richmond—and specifically Chesterfield County—for their newest manufacturing facility,” said Jennifer Wakefield, President + CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership. “The LEGO Group’s combination of creativity and sustainable business practices is a perfect fit for our region and we’re happy to help them build for tomorrow.”

Location of Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield

Location of Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield

“The future economic impact of the LEGO Group’s U.S. manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County cannot be overstated, and we are thrilled to welcome this global household brand to Virginia,” said Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission Chair Senator Janet Howell. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that the Commonwealth is an ideal launch pad for major international companies entering the United States, and I commend the team that worked to ensure the LEGO Group selected Virginia. The MEI Commission is proud to play a role in this tremendous project that represents the LEGO Group’s newest chapter of growth.”

“We thank the LEGO Group for its major investment and creating more than 1,700 new jobs in Chesterfield County,” said Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission Vice Chair Delegate Barry Knight. “The company’s U.S. manufacturing facility will further expand the LEGO Group’s footprint, and I am pleased the MEI Commission could collaborate with our state, regional, and local partners to secure this exceptional win for Virginia.”

The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, meaning “Play Well.” Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 130 countries worldwide.

 The company’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in the LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. Time included the LEGO Group on the inaugural list of the Top 100 Influential Companies in 2021.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County, the Greater Richmond Partnership, and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure the project for Virginia. The LEGO Group will be eligible to receive an MEI custom performance grant of $56 million based on an investment of more than $1 billion and the creation of jobs estimated to be in excess of 1,760, as well as site development improvements estimated at up to $19 million, subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly.

Support for the LEGO Group’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce initiative created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners, with funding support from the Governor’s administration and the Virginia General Assembly. Launched in 2019, the program accelerates new facility start-ups through the direct delivery of recruitment and training services that are fully customized to a company’s unique products, processes, equipment, standards, and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation. Interested applicants can visit http://www.LEGOcareersvirginia.com/ and receive notification when job applications officially open in late 2022/early 2023.

 

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CONTACTS

Office of the Governor
Contact: Macaulay Porter
Email: Macaulay.Porter@governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Contact: Emilee Loope
Email: eloope@vedp.org

The LEGO Group
Contact: Benjamin Hjorth
Email: media@LEGO.com

Chesterfield Economic Development
Contact: Matt McLaren
Email: mclarenm@chesterfield.gov
Contact: Garrett Hart
Email: hartga@chesterfield.gov

 

LEGO Group Site in Meadowville Technology Park

The LEGO Group Site in Meadowville Technology Park

 

Max Schlatterer GmbH & Co. KG has announced it will establish its first U.S. location in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Headquartered in Germany, Schlatterer Esband produces and sells drive belts, conveyor belts, special belts, garniture tapes and suction tapes under the “Esband” brand.

Esband offers truly endless, homogeneous flat belts, manufactured without joints or splices, for high performance driving, conveying, and special power transmission applications. Truly endless technology has been shown to consistently outperform conventional, joined flat belt designs.

Esband belts offer extreme design flexibility since they are available in many carcass materials and coatings, and in any width specified. In addition, customers can have belts custom machined with perforations, self-tracking guides, vacuum slots and transport pockets.

Schlatterer Esband will initially be operating a sales and distribution center out of space in the Fi-Tech building at 2400 Pari Way in Midlothian, Virginia.

The company will hire ten workers to begin operations with plans to grow its business in U.S. markets.

Chesterfield County Economic Development worked with the Greater Richmond Partnership and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to help Schlatterer Esband find the location in Chesterfield County.

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About Chesterfield Economic Development
Chesterfield Economic Development works on a free and confidential basis with domestic and foreign companies planning to establish new facilities, relocate existing facilities, or expand current facilities. The department also assists existing businesses and industries already located in Chesterfield with any business-related issues. CED staff members will assist with site selection requirements, information and research needs, public relations and relocation services, small business issues, or streamlining regulatory processes. For more information visit: www.chesterfieldbusiness.com

Media Contact
Matt McLaren
Chesterfield Economic Development
Email: mclarenm@chesterfield.gov
Tel: 1.804.833.8445

Verdex Technologies has announced plans to open a $1 million nanofiber manufacturing operation in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Verdex will start production this summer in a 3,300-square-foot space in the industrial park adjacent to the Richmond Executive Airport.

The company makes nanofibers that are used in such products as masks, air filters and personal hygiene products to prevent certain chemicals or other pollutants from permeating the materials.

The announcement comes after a $3.9 million investment in Verdex to fund research along with equipment by SOSV, an international venture capital firm.

This investment follows 10 years of customer validation from top-tier nonwoven companies, critical R&D and patent filings, resulting in a unique functionalized production technology that can produce a wide range of advanced nanofiber products.

Verdex was founded by Dr. Larry Marshall in 2010. Dr. Marshall who spent his career at DuPont developing and commercializing Tyvek®. Verdex uses a proprietary solvent-free process using only low heated air to produce its nanofiber media.

“One of the most unique abilities in The Verdex Process® is our ability to customize and functionalize our nanofibers. This allows Verdex to incorporate particles into the fiber matrix to target specific challenges and problems in multiple industries to create game-changing products,” said Damien Deehan co-CEO at Verdex.

As Verdex looks for a disruptive product to go-to-market, Verdex has concentrated all its efforts in developing a first in class HVAC/HEPA media and product that Verdex believes will be a game-changer for the industry. Unlike current HVAC media which lacks the ability to capture viruses and submicron particles, Verdex’s patented process provides a 3D nanofiber media which combines high submicron particle capture.

“Chesterfield welcomes Verdex Technologies to the County and wishes them all the best in their new endeavor. We appreciate their efforts in this unique technology,” said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Jim Holland.

“Verdex Technologies illustrates the spin-off, or multiplier effect that we sometimes experience when we have a sophisticated corporate giant in our community like DuPont. The talent working there and now in other companies helps spur the growth of our business community,” said Tina Shreve, Senior Project Manager, Chesterfield County Economic Development. “It is a true pleasure working with Mr. Deehan and his team!”

Verdex is actively looking for leaders in their respective industries, who are interested in purchasing nanofiber media and integrating this patented technology into their own products to create higher value products that command high value in the marketplace.

To learn more about working with Verdex, contact Damien Deehan on info@verdextech.com or visit www.verdextech.com

$17.7 Million Operation Will Create 300 New Jobs

Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Starplast USA, subsidiary of Israeli company Starplast will invest approximately $17.7 million to develop a new manufacturing facility in Chesterfield.

Starplast USA produces a wide range of high-performance plastic products, like plastic housewares, garden storage, and toys. Virginia successfully competed with Ohio and Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 300 new jobs over five years.

“We are so pleased to see global manufacturers like Starplast USA planting their roots right here in Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “Our strategic East Coast location, world-class port facilities, competitive operating costs, and robust manufacturing workforce, make us a prime destination for international companies. We welcome a long partnership with Starplast USA and look forward to their future success.”

Starplast USA was founded in 2005 as a subsidiary of Starplast, based in Israel. Established in 1958, Starplast is a family-owned company with a wealth of experience and a long-standing commitment to superior plastics. The company partners with customers to create a wide range of attractive, high-quality products that include drawer carts, laundry hampers and baskets, storage decorative bins and baskets, food storage, kitchen organization bins, garden deck boxes, and outdoor toys.

Starplast Product Lines

After gaining recognition in Israel for value, quality, and innovation, Starplast entered the global plastics market in the 1970s. Since 1976, over 90% of production has been exported to Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan. Starplast USA established its first manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas in 2018, allowing the company to respond optimally to the needs of major U.S. retailers.

“More than 400 advanced materials companies have chosen Virginia for its diverse ecosystem of suppliers, innovators, and customers and its business friendly climate, and we are excited to have Starplast USA join us here in the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “Starplast has a strong history in developing quality plastics products, and we thank the company for creating 300 new jobs in Chesterfield County.”

“Starplast chose Chesterfield County for its new manufacturing operation because the geographic location is very attractive, especially given its proximity to the East Coast and the Port of Virginia,” said Starplast Chief Executive Officer Danny Schwartz. “Additionally, Virginia – and in particular the Richmond area – has a strong workforce with readily-available talent.”

Starplast will retrofit an existing building near Meadowville Technology Park.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support Starplast USA’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, Virginia Jobs and Investment Program reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies.

Virginia Jobs and Investment Program is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens. The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program, as well as benefits from the Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for new, full-time jobs created.

“We appreciate Starplast choosing Chesterfield for its advanced plastics manufacturing operation,” said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Holland. “The unique product line that will be created here in Chesterfield County will not only help grow our local economy, but also show off our community’s stellar workforce capabilities.”

“Greater Richmond welcomes Starplast to the region’s international business community of more than 220 facilities,” said Greater Richmond Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Wakefield. “The company’s facility in Chesterfield – and first in Virginia – will help Starplast reach 45% of the U.S. population within one-day’s delivery.”

“Starplast USA is another example of Virginia’s growing manufacturing base that is taking advantage of The Port of Virginia’s global reach,” said Virginia Port Authority Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Stephen A. Edwards. “We are preparing to further expand our capacity and are deepening our channels and these investments, combined with others to come, will ensure companies like Starplast USA can always move their cargo across our terminals safely, reliably, and with confidence. We are looking forward to a long and collaborative partnership with Starplast USA.”

“I am proud to support Starplast USA’s decision to select Chesterfield County to build a new manufacturing facility that will provide 300 new jobs and invest $17.7 million into the community,” Senator Joseph Morrissey. “Additionally, I will always support businesses, such as Starplast USA, that strive to produce eco-friendly and sustainable products. I applaud Starplast USA for its selection of Chesterfield County and have no doubt that this project will be successful.”

“I am pleased to welcome Starplast USA to Chesterfield,” said Delegate Carrie Coyner. “With this decision to invest in our community, Starplast acknowledges Chesterfield’s ongoing commitment to deliver quality services to both corporate and individual residents.”

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Sonoco Trident manufactures rotogravure printing cylinders for flexible packaging printers within the United States and Canada and recently consolidated operations from Charlotte, NC to its Chester, VA facility. 

Sonoco Trident is currently located at 833 Liberty Way in the River’s Bend Center. As a result of this expansion, Trident relocated 5 employees from Charlotte, N.C. and added 6 more positions from the local area. The expansion of 46,000 square feet will bring their total manufacturing space to approximately 80,000 square feet. Trident has invested over $2 million to assist in servicing their customer base in the Americas.

Edward Broadhurst, Operations Director, says, “We are pleased to keep Chesterfield County as our home base. This location affords us great accessibility and professional image for our business. Chesterfield County Economic Development and Building Inspections, Emerald Construction and River City Industrial, along with several other local contractors, have all been tremendous in moving our project forward. This new facility will improve our overall operations and allow growth in our business.” 

“The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors certainly recognizes the importance of maintaining and growing our existing businesses. We are pleased that Sonoco Trident can make this capital investment in Chesterfield County, especially as our economy begins emerging from the pandemic. We look forward to their continued success,” said Jim Ingle, Bermuda District representative of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. 

Sonoco Trident was assisted through the expansion by Chesterfield County Department of Economic Development and the County’s Community Development Division. 

For more information please contact Tina Shreve at (804) 318-8564, or email at ShreveT@chesterfield.gov.

81,000-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY ADDS CAPACITY

Glass and aluminum systems fabricator, Aldora, will soon begin construction on a new 81,000-square-foot fabrication facility located in the Walthall interchange area at 16301 Walthall Industrial Parkway in South Chesterfield.

The new facility marks the fabricator’s seventh location serving the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, but the first location for Chesterfield.

“We would like to thank Aldora for their investment in Chesterfield County. This new facility continues to solidify that Chesterfield County is a much sought-after location for a variety of companies and industries.” Said Jim Ingle, Bermuda District Board of Supervisor.

The full-service glass fabrication and distribution facility will serve a 150-mile geographical radius to include Richmond, Baltimore, Washington DC, Norfolk, Raleigh-Durham, Roanoke and many points in between.

“The County is very happy to see a new facility being built in the Walthall area. This is a prime location for Aldora to enter this new market and become a supplier of choice. It will shorten their time of delivery in the entire region.” said Jim Holland, Board of Supervisors Chair. 

Aldora expects to break ground within the next two of months and anticipates being fully operational by spring 2022.

“This newest facility services an area that we believe is underserved by the market according to our preliminary research,” Aldora CEO Leon Silverstein said. “Our model has been to add locations that will fit strategically into our current geographic coverage.”

Chesterfield County Economic Development (CCED) will further assist Aldora in locating their facility in Chesterfield. “Aldora will be a great addition to our business community and we look forward to onboarding their new jobs in the near future.” said Tina Shreve, Senior Project Manager, CCED.

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For More Information:
Niall Caheny
954.784.6900
contact@aldoraglass.com

Tina Shreve
Senior Project Manager
Chesterfield County Economic Development
804.318.8564
shrevet@chesterfield.gov

 

Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Petal, a new kind of credit card company built to help people financially succeed, will make an investment of over $300,000 to establish a new service and operations center in Chesterfield County. Virginia successfully competed with Austin, Salt Lake City, and New York City—where Petal is headquartered—for the project, which will create more than 80 new jobs over the next three years.

“Petal is an innovative startup with a truly unique business model, and we are delighted that this growing company has chosen Chesterfield County as the site of its new state-of-the-art operations center,” said Governor Northam. “With its proximity to nearly 30 higher education institutions, this region will train and supply the next generation of skilled professionals, ensuring the company has access to a wealth of top talent for years to come. We welcome Petal to Virginia, and look forward to their success in Chesterfield County.”

Petal wants to make safe and affordable credit accessible to everyone, even if they have no credit score or prior experience with credit. The company uses cutting-edge technology to help create the most advanced, intuitive, and user-friendly credit cards on the planet, designed from the ground up to help people financially succeed. The first Petal product, the Petal Visa credit card, launched in 2018. The card, along with Petal’s mobile app, makes it easy for people to build credit, track spending, and manage money responsibly. Petal helps measure objective components of each individual’s creditworthiness that aren’t typically considered in a credit approval decision, like how much an individual actually makes, saves, and spends over time, and the bills they pay each month. This approach allows Petal to offer lower interest rates and higher lines of credit without charging fees, even if those consumers don’t (yet) have a credit score. Full pricing details on the Petal card are available here.

“Major business services companies from around the world continue to choose Virginia for its low operating costs and skilled workforce, and we are thrilled to welcome Petal to the Greater Richmond Region’s corporate roster,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “The new operations center in Chesterfield County will serve as the voice of the company’s new and nontraditional financial product, which aims to make credit safer and more accessible. We remain committed to partnering with dynamic startups as they seek growth and opportunity in Virginia, and are confident that Petal will thrive in its new location.”

Petal’s Chesterfield County office will act as its service and operations center, serving a critical role as Petal’s front line to the many customers who are looking to build credit responsibly. Employees will manage Petal’s customer support, credit operations and operational quality assurance functions, serving as the company’s voice with customers. Petal is now actively hiring in the Richmond area. To date, Petal has raised more than $80 million in equity and debt financing from venture capitalists, financial institutions, and investment banks. This funding will help fuel Petal’s expansion in Chesterfield County.

“We’re excited to open a world-class operations center in partnership with Governor Northam and the state of Virginia,” said Jason Gross, Petal’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. “People don’t normally associate credit cards with a high-quality customer experience, and that’s one more way we plan to reinvent credit. We look forward to having smart, ambitious people in the Richmond area join our team to make our mission of honest, simple and accessible credit a reality.”

“The new operations center will become the operational hub for Petal’s experience execution team—specifically, the team focused on customer support, credit application processing, collections, and fraud,” said Tom Greco, Vice President of Customer Operations, who will be leading Petal’s Richmond office. “We are excited to take advantage of Richmond’s abundant talent market and the wealth of banking experience in the area.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Chesterfield County to secure the project for Virginia. VEDP will support Petal’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). VJIP provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs or experiencing technological change in order to support employee training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.

“We are so pleased that Petal has chosen Chesterfield County for their new service and operations center,”said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Leslie Haley. “On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I welcome Petal to our community and appreciate the creation of jobs for our residents.”

Chesterfield County Economic Development worked with the company and VEDP to locate Petal in Chesterfield County. “Tom Greco is a great example of a public-school graduate coming home to operate a business,” said Tina Shreve, Senior Project Manager, Chesterfield County Economic Development. “He recognized the quality of life in Chesterfield and the talent-pool that exists here.”

“We are excited for Petal’s new investment in Chesterfield, which will bring at least 80 new jobs to our community,” said Senator Glen Sturtevant. “These important opportunities grow our local economy while providing innovative access and education on building credit responsibly.”

ERNI Electronics, Inc. broke ground today on its $25 million, state-of-the-art production and distribution facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

The company will invest $25 million and create approximately 105 new jobs

ERNI Electronics, Inc. announced today that it plans to build a state-of-the-art production and distribution facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

ERNI Electronics Inc., a leading international manufacturer of electrical connectors, will significantly increase its U.S. based manufacturing presence with a new facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The company plans to invest about $25 million and create approximately 105 new jobs within the next five years.

The facility will house the American headquarters for ERNI Electronics in a newly, purpose-built complex in the Waterford Business Park that incorporates manufacturing, workforce training and office uses on a new 11-acre campus. The company is a key supplier to the automotive and industrial automation industry of high-performance electrical connectors.

“We are excited to welcome ERNI Electronics as another member of Chesterfield County’s fast-growing international business community,” said Christopher Winslow, Clover Hill District, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “I am proud of Chesterfield’s continued success in attracting investment and happy that, with their new facility in Waterford, ERNI Electronics is poised for future growth.”

Waterford Business Park

Waterford Business Park

“We’re very proud of the growth we’ve been able to achieve in recent years and we’ve simply outgrown the space we are in today,” said Bill Knable, ERNI Electronics, Inc., Managing Director, and President. “ERNI has been a staple in the Virginia economy for some time now and after much deliberation, we’re proud to announce our decision to expand the American manufacturing and distribution footprint for ERNI right here in Chesterfield County.”

ERNI Site Location in Waterford

ERNI Site Location in Waterford

“As an organization, we’re faced with a rapidly growing market with increasingly complex requirements, so we need to be positioned to respond to changes quickly and flexibly,” said Knable. “We know we need good infrastructure that will enable us to reach both customers and our nicely developed American supply base with ease; we need a good space to grow; and we need to be near quality schools that will be educating our future employees. After much analysis, we are confident in Chesterfield County meeting these criteria and more to support our continued growth.”

Bill Knable, Managing Director (Right) and Jason Roe, Technical Director (Left)

Bill Knable, Managing Director (r) and Jason Roe, Technical Director (l), in front of production line at ERNI Electronics in Richmond, VA.

Chesterfield Economic Development worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Chesterfield. The company will receive benefits from the Economic Development Road Access Fund.

“I am thrilled that ERNI has chosen to locate their U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility expansion to Chesterfield County,” said Chair of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Leslie Haley. “The new, skilled jobs that ERNI plans to create will continue to help make Chesterfield a great community to live and work.”

ERNI will be releasing information later in the year related to hiring for the new facility.

About: Established in 1947, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and privately held, ERNI Electronics is a market leader in the development and production of electrical connectors, central electric units, and cable housings and enclosures. With locations in over 40 countries, ERNI is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of quality connectors for the automotive, medical, and communications fields, among others. For more information about the company, please visit www.erni.com. Please send PR related topics directly to our Public Relations partner, C Things Differently, info@cthingsdifferntly.com.

Contacts:

ERNI Electronics, Inc.
Ray Meyers, Project Manager
Email: ray.meyers@erni.com
Mobile: 804-228-4100

Chesterfield Economic Development
Matt McLaren, Senior Project Manager
Email: McLarenM@chesterfield.gov
Phone: 804-318-8550

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Governor Ralph Northam today announced that The Results Companies, a leading provider of business processing outsourcing services, will invest $1.5 million to expand its client engagement operations in Chesterfield County. The company will lease additional space for its second call center in the area. Virginia successfully competed against New Mexico for the project, which will create 600 new jobs.

55,000-square-foot Indoor Sports Facility Is Home to the Richmond Volleyball Club and the Stonebridge Recreation Center

Today, Chesterfield County’s Economic Development Authority, Parks and Recreation and the Richmond Volleyball Club officially cut the ribbon on a new facility, located at 200 Karl Linn Drive. The 55,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, built by the EDA, is home to the Richmond Volleyball Club and the Stonebridge Recreation Center.

“We are so glad to celebrate the opening of this new recreation facility,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dorothy Jaeckle. “This collaboration between the Economic Development Authority of Chesterfield, Chesterfield Parks and Recreation and the Richmond Volleyball Club is an excellent example of a truly successful public-private redevelopment partnership.”

Richmond Volleyball Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing volleyball athletes of all ages, is leasing 50,000 square feet from the EDA, which provides space for eight courts for year-round volleyball programming in Chesterfield. The dedicated space, especially built for volleyball, will also allow Richmond Volleyball Club to host larger tournaments that span the entire region, bringing in more visitors to the metro-Richmond area.

“Richmond Volleyball Club is thrilled to connect with Chesterfield residents,” said Darcy Carroll, Richmond Volleyball Club executive director. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the EDA and Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation to offer a convenient, premier facility, and comprehensive volleyball programs. As a non-profit, we have a strong outreach program. It is our goal to spread the love of the sport to beginners and competitive players alike.”

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation will lease the additional 5,000 square feet for the new Stonebridge Recreation Center. The recreation center is the first in the Midlothian area and will primarily host older-adult programming, including classes, workshops, fitness programs and special events. Additionally, during the daytime hours, the county will have access to the entire facility for programs or events. The Stonebridge Recreation Center joins the Bensley and Ettrick centers as the county’s third public recreation facility.

“The Parks and Recreation Department is looking forward to this new amenity,” Parks and Recreation Director Dr. James Worsley said. “This unique partnership with the Richmond Volleyball Club provides the department with access to a multi-use facility. The Stonebridge Recreation Center will have space for recreation programs and events. We are excited about the opportunities to expand services to all members of the community.”

“We are thrilled to have our Parks and Recreation Department partner with the Richmond Volleyball Club to bring such great services and programs to our community,” said Leslie Haley, vice chair of the board of supervisors and Midlothian District representative. “The economic impact on the eastern Midlothian area from the people visiting this facility for daily events and weekend tournaments will be tremendous.”

Art Heinz, Economic Development Authority chair, said, “We are extremely excited about this extraordinary sports facility. It will add to the enthusiasm around Stonebridge and sports tourism throughout the county.”

Richmond Volleyball Club and Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation will be the newest tenants to locate in the Stonebridge area. Stonebridge is a successful mixed-use revitalization development which is home to Kroger Marketplace, one the company’s largest stores in the mid-Atlantic region; the Elements at Stonebridge, Boyd Homes’ luxury apartment community; and the Shops at Stonebridge.

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ABOUT STONEBRIDGE

Stonebridge was a public-private partnership between Chesterfield County Economic Development Authority and Crosland, Southeast to transform the former Cloverleaf Mall site into a multimillion-dollar retail, residential and commercial center. The project was named “Best Public-Private Partnership Project in Virginia” by Virginia Business Magazine in 2011. Stonebridge was recently acquired by S2 Capital Partners, LLC. Company officials have expressed their commitment to continue to invest in the project and are adding another 15,600 square feet of retail development.

ABOUT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

With more than 45 public parks and 4,387 acres of green space, the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department offers many opportunities for residents to engage in recreation and outdoor pursuits. The county is also home to many athletic complexes, where sports tournaments and athletic events are hosted. In addition, the parks system maintains many historical sites, an extensive trail system, several conservation areas, three community recreation centers, the Rockwood Nature Center and the County Fairgrounds. A wide variety of recreation services for all ages are offered to meet community needs.

ABOUT RICHMOND VOLLEYBALL CLUB

Richmond Volleyball Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing athletes of all ages for amateur volleyball competition. RVC is Richmond’s oldest sports and social club and has the largest, volleyball-dedicated facilities in the country. Since 1981, RVC has championed the growth of volleyball in central Virginia. RVC is social, fun and family-oriented with year-round volleyball programs for ages 3 – 73.

ABOUT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The Chesterfield Economic Development Authority works in conjunction with the Department of Economic Development to help create new jobs, expand the tax base, and diversify the economy of Chesterfield County. The EDA is chartered through a state law that allows cities and counties to create industrial or economic development authorities with wide-ranging powers, not available to local governments, with the purpose of facilitating economic development opportunities within the community.

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Chesterfield County is pleased to welcome Richmond Volleyball Club (RVC) to Chesterfield County. The EDA will build and lease to RVC approximately 50,000 square feet of a new indoor sports facility in Stonebridge. Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department will also lease 5,000 square feet of the building for additional community programs and services. The new facility will be located at 200 Karl Linn Drive, Chesterfield County, Virginia and is expected to be operational by January 2018.

Richmond Volleyball Club is excited by the growth opportunity this additional location can provide. This Chesterfield County location will offer the club’s current members and guests convenient access to RVC. Darcy Carroll, Executive Director states, “We are thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Chesterfield County Economic Development and Parks and Recreation. We hope to introduce more individuals to the sport of volleyball. To many, it may be a new sport that they have not considered. This additional facility will allow us the opportunity to grow our programs tremendously.”

“We are so glad to welcome the Richmond Volleyball Club to Chesterfield.” Said Board of Supervisors Chair, Dorothy Jaeckle. “This public-private partnership between the Economic Development Authority of Chesterfield and the Richmond Volleyball Club is the latest for the Stonebridge development, one of the most successful public-private redevelopment partnerships in the region!”

“The Richmond Volleyball Club is such a great organization and runs such great youth programs, we are thrilled to have our Parks and Recreation department partnering with them to bring additional services and programs to our citizens.” Said Leslie Haley, Vice Chair, and Board of Supervisor for the Midlothian District. “The economic impact on the eastern Midlothian area from people visiting this facility for daily events and weekend tournaments will be tremendous!” she added.

For the past 35 years, RVC has helped residents in the Richmond region maintain an active lifestyle throughout their life by offering year-round programs for adults and juniors. Growing from one four-court facility into two facilities (with a combined 20 courts), RVC has been a home away from home for more than 3,000 members and a champion for the growth of volleyball in central Virginia.

Richmond Volleyball Club has almost 400 visitors daily, participating in adult leagues and junior development programs. RVC supports 140 USA Volleyball and recreational junior teams annually.  They currently host around 51 teams on any given weekend with 57% of those teams traveling from more than 60 miles away.  This new facility will allow RVC to increase their one-day tournaments, which occur almost every weekend from January to May, by approximately 32 teams each day.

RVC also hosts more than 10,000 junior players, coaches, and spectators twice a year in two major tournaments, the combined Boys’ East Coast Championships/Girls’ South Atlantic Championships, and the Monument City Classic. These tournaments are held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and their current Henrico County location. Those two tournaments alone generate approximately $9 million dollars in positive economic impact. “We look forward to now being able to expand these tournaments. In the past, we’ve had to limit the number of entries and look forward to opening it up to more teams,” remarked Skip Weston, Director of Programs and Facilities.

“Sports tourism has been a huge economic driver for the Richmond Region in recent years, totaling more than half of our events bookings. Facilities are the number one factor in attracting lucrative tournaments to the area,” according to Jack Berry, President & CEO of Richmond Region Tourism. “The new space at Stonebridge is an exciting addition to the Richmond Region’s sports tourism offerings.”

In addition to RVC, the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department will also have access to portions of the facility for programming and other services. The Parks and Recreation Department will use approximately 5,000 square feet of the building to hold classes for a variety of groups. Dr. James Worsley, Parks and Recreation Director, is enthusiastic about the partnership. “We are looking forward to being able to add an additional site for programs, the growing senior population in Chesterfield County will benefit from this cooperative effort with the Economic Development Authority and the Richmond Volleyball Club.”

Parks and Recreation is proposing to utilize the dedicated space to provide programs for primarily older adults. These programs include classes, workshops, fitness programs, and special events. In addition to the senior programming scheduled for the facility, Parks and Recreation staff would also make use of the location for community programs, pre-school activities and youth programming.

RVC and Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation will be the newest tenants to locate in Stonebridge. Stonebridge is a successful mixed use revitalization project which is home to Kroger Marketplace, one of the company’s largest stores in the mid-Atlantic region; the Elements at Stonebridge, a Boyd Homes’ luxury apartment community; and the Shops at Stonebridge.

“Boyd Homes is excited to see Stonebridge continue to grow as a key place to Live, Work, and Play in Chesterfield County. The new volleyball facility will bring new consumers into our community and expand the vitality of this community. This will also provide new recreational and entertainment opportunities to our residents.” says David S. Rudiger, President/General Counsel for Boyd Homes.

Stonebridge was a public-private partnership between the Economic Development Authority and Crosland, Southeast to transform the former Cloverleaf Mall site into a multimillion-dollar retail, residential and commercial center. The project was named “Best Public-Private Partnership Project in Virginia” by Virginia Business Magazine in 2011.

Stonebridge was recently acquired by S2 Capital Partners, LLC. Company officials have expressed their commitment to continue to invest in the project with another potential 15,600 square feet of retail development. “S2 Capital Partners is excited to welcome this regional volleyball facility to the Stonebridge Shopping Center neighborhood. We look forward to partnering with the new facility on future opportunities that will further enrich and engage the local community” said Rob Seidel, Principal.

The investments made to date in Stonebridge have encouraged significant additional private investment all along eastern Midlothian Turnpike, such as the renovation of the adjacent Chippenham Square Shopping Center and the redevelopment of the former Beaufont Mall into Spring Rock Green, transforming this key retail and commercial corridor into a vibrant community.

The project builds upon recent development and expansion of facilities in the region. Richmond SportsBackers’ executive director, Jon Lugbill, said, “Chesterfield County continues to build sports facilities that not only provide awesome recreational opportunities for local residents to promote healthy living, but also provide economic impact through sports tourism. Our region continues to expand on its already impressive array of sports tourism events and one of the primary reasons for this growth is the construction of high quality sports facilities.  Chesterfield County continues to benefit from working together with local non-profit sports organizations to grow sports tournaments that generate funds to aid local youth sports programs and serve more kids.”

 

ABOUT RICHMOND VOLLEYBALL CLUB:
Richmond Volleyball Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing athletes of all ages for amateur volleyball competition. RVC is Richmond’s oldest sports & social club and has the largest, volleyball-dedicated facilities in the country. Since 1981, RVC has championed the growth of volleyball in central Virginia. RVC is social, fun and family with year-round volleyball programs for ages 3 – 73.

ABOUT BOYD HOMES:
For over 35 years. Boyd Homes has been creating communities full of heart and life. Boyd Homes builds and develops residential communities in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. They are well known in the industry as an innovative builder/developer who is dedicated to using appealing exterior designs and floor plans that maximize usable space.

ABOUT S2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC:
S2 Capital Partners, LLC is comprised of founders and principals Rob Seidel and George Stewart, who have each served Virginia, Maryland, and the greater Washington, DC metro region for more than 30 years. Starting in 2014, S2 Capital Partners, LLC has acquired four shopping centers with a value of approximately $31 million and the goal of significantly increasing value through repositioning, redevelopment and releasing of each property. S2’s acquisition focus is on $10-$15 million grocery-anchored/shadow anchored retail centers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

CONTACTS

Economic Development Authority of Chesterfield
Contact: Garrett Hart
Phone: (804) 318-8550
Email: HartGA@chesterfield.gov

Richmond Volleyball Club
Contact: Jonnie Stone
Phone: (804)358-3000
Email: jonnie@RVC.net

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation
Contact: James Worsley
Phone: (804) 748-1079
Email: WorsleyJ@chesterfield.gov

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Kroger held a grand re-opening for its store in the Ivymont Square Shopping Center in the village of Midlothian.

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Leslie Haley, who represents the Midlothian District on the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors, thanked Kroger for its investment and new jobs and helped cut the ribbon for the expansion.

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The expanded Kroger Marketplace will enhance the exciting and convenient grocery and dining experience for the residents and workers in the area. The special amenities, cooking demonstrations and sampling bars will make the Marketplace a destination for local residents.

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The 19,700 square foot expansion enlarges the store to 106,000 square feet. Kroger invested $14.8 million in the facility and added 70 additional jobs.

$68+ Million Project Commenced

Charlotte-based Crosland Southeast in partnership with Hartford-based Hutensky Capital Partners, the developer of Stonebridge, and Virginia Beach-based Boyd Homes, the builder and developer of numerous local communities, announce that Boyd Homes has just begun construction of Element at Stonebridge, a 400 unit urban style apartment complex in Stonebridge.

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The project will consist of studio, one and two bedroom apartments in four buildings. The buildings will feature onsite amenities and balconies overlooking interior courtyards. The residential community is designed to integrate into the rest of Stonebridge to allow residents to conveniently walk to the retail, entertainment and office uses of the development.

Boyd Homes expects to welcome its first residents in late 2015. A second phase, with 200 additional apartment units, is planned after completion of the first 400 units.

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Stonebridge is the redevelopment of the vacant Cloverleaf Mall and is an 83-acre, 400,000-square-foot, $100 million mixed-use project in one of Chesterfield’s key retail/business corridors. The project is currently home to Kroger’s largest store in the mid-Atlantic region, a 123,600-square-foot Kroger Marketplace and to another 27,000 square feet of retail shops.
Charlotte-based Crosland Southeast is one of the leading real estate development and investments firms in the Southeast United States with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC.

“We are pleased to be working with Boyd Homes to horizontally integrate 600 multifamily residences into the retail and commercial components of Stonebridge. Boyd’s innovative design is on the cutting edge which will help differentiate Stonebridge from other mixed and multi-use projects in the marketplace,” said James F. Downs, Partner, Crosland Southeast.

Boyd Homes has been building and developing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond for over 30 years and in the Richmond metropolitan area for almost 15 years. They are well known in the industry as an innovative builder/developer who is dedicated to using appealing exterior designs and floor plans that maximize usable space.

Ken Merner, Director of Development for Boyd Homes, said “As a family-owned business, real people stand behind the quality of our work and service. The success that Boyd Homes has enjoyed over the last thirty years can be attributed in large measure to the dedication of our team to providing a quality product with the service our residents deserve.”

“This residential anchor solidifies the redevelopment of a very strategic gateway into Chesterfield County. A mixed use development such as this, where residents can live, work, and play, fits into our county vision. We are very pleased to see both our commercial and residential areas strengthened as we continue to revitalize the Eastern Midlothian corridor,” said Dan Gecker, Chesterfield County Midlothian District Supervisor.

Contact:
James Downs, Crosland Southeast, 704.561.5257, JDowns@croslandsoutheast.com
Ken Merner, Boyd Homes, 757.271.0078, kenm@boydhomes.com

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Uphoff Ventures has signed a strategic partnership with Jinma Group from Quanzhou (Fujian Province), China, which plans on significant investments in waterparks and entertainment centers in the United States and China. The partnership will begin immediately with the conceptual phase of a $160 million water park, hotel and convention center. Uphoff Ventures plans to utilize their property located next to Uptown Alley in Chesterfield for the new venue. Renderings of the new facility can be seen above.

Steve Uphoff founded the Uppy’s convenience-store chain and two Uptown Alley location including other successful investments. Uphoff Ventures is a family-owned business located in Chesterfield, Virginia. The organization works in partnership with Trifecta Management Group who will operate the new entertainment venue.

Partnership signing

Xing Xing Wu, Chairman and CEO of Jinma Group and Steve Uphoff, CEO of Uphoff Ventures, sign an agreement to enter a strategic partnership.

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The Memory Center, an innovative residential community for individuals with Alzheimer’s and similar dementias, is making Chesterfield the home of its second location. The groundbreaking is scheduled for July 16, 2014.

The 34,000-square-foot facility, which will be adjacent to the St. Francis Medical Center, is anticipated to open by the beginning of 2015. The project is a total investment of $13 million in the County. It is expected to create 80 new jobs.

“We are extremely pleased that The Memory Center is opening its second Virginia location in Chesterfield County… Projects such as this contribute to keeping Chesterfield County a ‘First Choice’ community,” said Jim Holland, chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

The Memory Center prides itself on its unique “Town Center” concept. Amenities will include a movie theater, library, general store, bank, tavern, ice cream stand and salon. The facility will also feature the latest technologies for complete medical over-site, a four-to-one resident to staff ratio, coordinated therapy services, secured entrances and camera monitoring systems.

“The community will set a new standard in the greater Richmond area for the care and well-being of people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive loss,” said Memory Center Chairman and CEO Kevin DiBona.

The Virginia Beach-based company is one of the few organizations in the state that focuses on assisted living communities exclusively for memory care.

“[The Memory Center is] among the leaders in providing a safe and secure living environment for individuals facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other related dementias and we are gratified that our citizens will have now have another quality care option,” said Holland.

The Memory Center's Proposed New Facility

The Memory Center’s Proposed New Facility

For more information on the Memory Center’s new location, visit their website:

http://www.thememorycenter.com/facilities/richmond/

Titan Tire & Auto is expanding its presence in Chesterfield County with the opening of its second location at 17211 Hull Street Road. The full service auto repair shop began in South Chesterfield ten years ago.

“We are very excited about opening a second store,” said Butch and Kim Taylor, owners of Titan Auto & Tire. “Opening a second store is a dream come true. Our customers in North Chesterfield are excited we will be closer to where they live and work. We will now be able to better serve our customers and the community for all their vehicle care needs.”

Its new 12,000-square-foot location in North Chesterfield will open for business on July 14, 2014. The official grand opening celebration will take place on September 19, 2014 with a ribbon cutting ceremony from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Titan Tire & Auto’s expansion will be a $100,000 investment in the County, creating seven new jobs.

“We are very pleased that Titan Auto & Tire continues to grow and expand in Chesterfield County,” said County Administrator Jay Stegmaier. “It’s rewarding to see our locally owned businesses flourish and this expansion is a testament to our strong business climate.”

The New Facility

The New Facility

 

For more information on Titan Tire & Auto, visit their website:

www.titanautotire.com

RICHMOND, Va. – Philip Morris USA (PM USA) today announced it intends to invest over $50 million to establish a tobacco leaf storage warehouse complex on 118 acres in Chester, Virginia. PM USA will lease four buildings totaling 1 million square feet off of Bermuda Hundred Road in the Meadowville area of Chesterfield County.

PM USA is developing the new warehouse complex to store raw materials used in making its tobacco products. The warehousing complex will complement PM USA’s existing leaf storage warehouses in the Richmond area.

“This new PM USA facility will be a welcome addition to our corporate community and once again indicates Chesterfield’s commitment to providing a business friendly environment,” said James Holland, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

“We are pleased to continue investing in the Richmond area, which is home to our headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing center,” said Cliff Fleet, President and CEO of Philip Morris USA. “This strategic Chesterfield County location will allow us convenient access to our manufacturing facilities and complement our existing storage and production activities.”

PM USA is owned by Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE:MO), a Fortune 200 company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Altria, along with Philip Morris USA and its other companies employ about 4,000 Virginians at six facilities throughout the region. Since 1983, PM USA has been the largest cigarette manufacturer in the United States. More than 50 percent of the cigarettes produced in the nation are made in its manufacturing center in south Richmond. More than $1 billion dollars flow through Virginia every year from Altria’s companies in the form of taxes, small business revenue, donations and income for thousands of Virginians.

“Altria is one of the top 10 largest employers in the area and we are pleased that they found Chesterfield County to be the right place for their continued investment,” said Jay Stegmaier, County Administrator of Chesterfield County.

Chesterfield Economic Development, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Greater Richmond Partnership, Seefried Industrial Development, Timmons Group, and CBRE assisted PM USA in the site selection process.

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Contacts:
For Chesterfield Economic Development: Garrett Hart, ghart@chesterfieldbusiness.com (804) 318-8561

For PM USA: Jeff Caldwell, jeffrey.j.caldwell@altria.com (804) 484-8897

International headquarters and production facility will be in North Chesterfield, Virginia.

Avail1NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VIRGINIA – May 22, 2014 – Avail Vapor, LLC, a Richmond-based company that is an industry leader in the rapidly expanding vapor and e-juice industry, has purchased a 37,515 square foot facility in Chesterfield County. It is located on four acres in the Southport Office Park and the building combines multiple office spaces as well an expansive production space. The projected capital investment will be $5 million with 60 employees.

James Xu, founding partner of Avail Vapor, says “We are excited to begin the renovation for our new Avail headquarters immediately. We will be converting this space in the coming weeks to house a new, state of the art, pharma-white room laboratory, and a production facility for the exclusive production of Avail Premium E Juice. This new facility and custom line will produce 8,000 bottles an hour while maintaining the quality, purity, consistency and flavor that Avail has come to stand for.” The new facility also will house the distribution facility for all Avail stores as well as the executive and support staff for Avail corporate stores located currently in Virginia and Maryland.

Avail currently operates in nine locations and has 11 more under construction or lease in the Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Xu adds, “This location also will serve as a training facility for Avail associates and franchise services in the future.” He added that this location will house a new Avail retail store adjacent to the lab that will enable customers to view the juice production through glass walls.

“We are very pleased that Avail Vapor chose Chesterfield County,” said County Administrator Jay Stegmaier. “It’s rewarding to see entrepreneurship flourish and the conversion of this facility into a unique headquarters and production facility is a testament to our strong business climate.”

Mr. Xu also noted that the assistance and support of the Chesterfield Department of Economic Development and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership was instrumental in Avail’s search for its new headquarters.

Contacts:
Avail: Susan Keeton, susank@availvapor.com
CED: Garrett Hart, ghart@chesterfieldbusiness.com

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Wegmans Food Markets to be Anchor Tenant for the Stonehenge Village Development in Midlothian

Marchetti Properties, LLC announced Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. will be the anchor tenant for Stonehenge Village, an entitled retail project located on the eastern edge of the Village of Midlothian in the 12500 block of Midlothian Turnpike.

“We have long-viewed Wegmans as the ideal anchor for Stonehenge Village”, said Bobby Marchetti, one of the principals of Marchetti Properties. “Wegmans epitomizes the highest of quality in everything the company does—from the architecture of their stores to the way they treat their customers and their employees—and we could not be more pleased that Wegmans chose to develop at Stonehenge Village.”

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The Midlothian Wegmans will have a design similar to this one built in northern Virginia last year.

 

“We are delighted to announce our plans to open a store in Stonehenge Village, and excited to finally be able to respond to the many requests we’ve had to come to the Richmond area,” says Ralphs Uttaro, Wegmans senior vice president of real estate. “I know that we will bring a unique shopping experience to the market that delivers on our promise of incredible customer service, the best ingredients, restaurant-quality prepared foods, and consistent low prices.”

Stonehenge Village is a master-planned retail development that will contain approximately 230,000 square feet of retail uses, including a grocery store, restaurants and other shops. The project is located in a well-established retail corridor and is centrally located to serve the Midlothian community and the broader, highly suburbanized northwest portion of Chesterfield County.

“We have always envisioned Stonehenge Village as a high quality development that will complement the Midlothian Village and surrounding area. With Wegmans and the other interested retailers with whom we have had active discussions, our vision is becoming a reality,” said Marchetti.

County leaders are applauding the attraction of another highly-respected retail name to Chesterfield.

“We are very happy that Wegmans is coming to Chesterfield County. Wegmans will provide an exciting and unique grocery and dining experience. In addition to the experience, Wegmans brings a strong commitment to its customers, community and employees,” said Jay Stegmaier, Chesterfield County Administrator

“We are very pleased that Wegmans will be the latest addition to the Midlothian corridor’s upscale retail offerings. As one of the “100 best companies to work for” we are excited about the jobs this will create for our citizens,” said Jim Holland, Chairman, Chesterfield Board of Supervisors.

Welcome-to-Wegmans-Video

Welcome to Wegmans Video

 

About Wegmans Food Markets

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is an 83-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Wegmans has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE magazine for 17 consecutive years. In 2014, Wegmans ranked #12 on the list.

About Marchetti Properties

Marchetti Properties is a family-owned retail center developer and owner in the Greater Richmond area.

~ Company to create 50 new jobs and retain 130 jobs ~

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27 Feb 2014
NORTH CHESTERFIELD – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced in North Chesterfield today that Evonik Industries, one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, will invest $15 million to relocate and expand its Business and Innovation Center in Chesterfield County. The company will maintain its manufacturing operation in the City of Hopewell. Virginia successfully competed against New Jersey and Indiana for the project, which will create 50 new jobs over five years and retain 130 jobs.

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Speaking at today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Evonik’s decision to stay in Virginia is a win-win for the state and for the Greater Richmond region. Evonik Corporation’s expansion of its research and development facilities in Chesterfield County and the creation of 50 new jobs is a testament to Virginia’s ability to attract innovative and growing companies to the Commonwealth and will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of the community.”

“The addition of 50 new high-tech and high-paying jobs in Chesterfield County is great news for the region,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “As Evonik expands its footprint in Virginia, welook forward to continuing a long corporate partnership between the company and the Commonwealth.”

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency, and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. The company is active in over 100 countries around the world.

“Virginia is a great place to do business,” said Dr. Reinhold Brand, senior vice president and general manager of Evonik’s Consumer Specialties business unit in North America. “The state is known as very business-friendly. The region has highly-educated workforce. Talent from all over the world can be attracted to work and live here in Virginia. And it was extremely easy to work with the Governor and his economic development team. Our employees are happy to be in Virginia—and very excited about our bright future with the new facility.”

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The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Former Governor Bob McDonnell approved a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield County with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

“We are proud to welcome Evonik to our corporate family,” said Jim Holland, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “As a world leader in the manufacturing and developing of specialty chemicals, we are extremely pleased that they have chosen Chesterfield County for their new Business and Innovation Center. Research and development is one of our target growth markets and this announcement certainly fits well into our economic base. We look forward to their continued growth.”

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Sabra Dipping Company to create 140 new jobs with completion of expansion in 2014

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Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Sabra Dipping Company, the country’s leading hummus manufacturer will invest $86 million to further expand its manufacturing capacity in Chesterfield County. The company, which earlier today opened a new Center of Excellence research and development facility will further increase production capabilities and as result, will add 140 new jobs over the next several years. Virginia successfully competed against other states for the project.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Sabra Dipping Company has been a tremendous corporate partner to Virginia since establishing its state-of-the-art food manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County in 2010. This significant investment comes on the heels of recent facility enhancements and the establishment of a Center of Excellence on Sabra’s campus. Today’s expansion brings the total jobs announced for the Chesterfield operation to nearly 500. We are honored to host the top-selling hummus brand in the country as it continues to accelerate in the growing food industry.”

“It is gratifying that as consumer demand increases for Sabra products, the company continues to choose its Virginia operation to accommodate this growth,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This additional major expansion is a great testament to the success Sabra has found in Chesterfield County.”

“We are so proud to continue to call Chesterfield County home,” said Ronen Zohar, CEO of Sabra Dipping Company. “Sabra’s newest expansion underscores the fact that Virginia (and the rest of the country) is for hummus lovers. But our growth within Chesterfield specifically speaks to the relationships we have developed within the community and the wonderful environment the state has fostered for growing businesses.”

Today’s groundbreaking marks the initiation of the next phase of expansion expected to be completed by mid 2014.

In May 2010 Sabra first opened its hummus manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County. In 2012, the Company announced an enhancement to the facility and plans for the Center of Excellence, which was opened today. The 2012 enhancement included the addition of two new lines, a packaging automation system, water waste systems and other plant improvements.

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“It is so impressive, but not surprising, how quickly Sabra has become a household name and the leader in the U.S. market,” said Dorothy Jaeckle, chair of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “They are a wonderful company and their products have become synonymous with great taste and quality. They certainly have set the standard for excellence and we’re very excited about another major expansion. We are very proud that these products are made in Chesterfield County and very thankful to Sabra for their continued investment and job creation.”

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The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $350,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield County with the project. The Governor also approved a $500,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment, training and retraining activities.

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