News Article Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Chesterfield Business News

CCL inks contracts with River City Sportsplex through 2020

River City Sportsplex will play host to the Club Champions League College Showcase through 2020 thanks to recently signed contracts by the Club Champions League (CCL).

This is the second multi-year contract signing for River City Sportsplex following the February announcement of Corrigan Sports Enterprises signing contracts for their events through 2020.

The CCL develops a December and February edition of the CCL College Showcase. Unique to CCL, the College Showcase events are league matches under the club-versus-club format where players can also show off their talents in hopes of being discovered by college coaches.

River City Sportsplex has played host to both of these events the past few years but did not have any future events scheduled at the complex following the most recent event in February.

Brian Kuk, CCL Executive Director said, “River City Sportsplex under Chesterfield County’s ownership was a huge upgrade, and we look forward to working with the county for our College Showcase events for years to come.”

About the CCL — The CCL offers superior competition, a model for player development and a governing board made up of professional soccer directors. The Club Champions League strives to activate and accelerate youth soccer development through it

June 5, 2017

News Article

Atlantic Constructors Expanding in Chesterfield County

$3 million project supports growth in prefabrication & modular construction services

Atlantic Constructors, Inc., (ACI) the region’s leading commercial and industrial contractor with offices in Richmond, Roanoke and Hampton Roads, is currently undergoing a $3 million expansion to enlarge its fabrication facility in Chesterfield County from 100,000 to 130,000 square feet. The project, which is scheduled for completion in July 2017, enables ACI to seize a competitive edge with its prefabrication and modular construction capabilities.

With the expansion, ACI is adding a significant amount of fabrication capacity, including increased overhead crane capacity, to meet the growing customer demand for “off-jobsite” assemblies and prefabrication. ACI fabricates the ductwork, piping, plumbing and steelwork to the client’s exact specifications while work at the client’s construction site is underway. The finished ACI products are then delivered to the job site in a ready-to-install state, increasing quality control and minimizing on-site installation time.

“A 30 percent increase in size allows us to have all of our fabrication services under one roof, which will result in greater efficiency, quality and cost-effectiveness for our customers,” said Terrance Kerner, President of ACI. “We are passionate about providing something extraordinary in terms of innovative and quality solutions for our clients. This expansion is a big step toward achieving our strategic goal to be positioned as the Mid-Atlantic region’s contractor of choice.”

“We are extremely pleased that Atlantic Constructors has made this new three-million-dollar investment in their facility here in the Bermuda District in Chesterfield County. Atlantic Constructors is a top-quality employer that truly lives their mission of being Extraordinary through Innovation, Collaboration, and Diversity,” said Dorothy Jaeckle, Chair, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “We appreciate Atlantic Constructors’ commitment to continued growth and we look forward to the new jobs this growth will bring to our community. Atlantic Constructors has been a great corporate community partner and we congratulate them on this expansion and wish them continued success.”

# # #

Atlantic Constructors, Inc. is a full service industrial and commercial contractor headquartered in Richmond, VA (Chesterfield County) with satellite offices in Newport News, Roanoke, and Hampton Roads, VA. Our highly skilled team of over 550 employees serves customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region. For more information, visit www.acibuilds.com.

Contact: Eddie Williams, Director of Marketing, Atlantic Constructors
Phone: 804-523-8795
Email: eddie.williams@acibuilds.com

Contact: Tina Shreve, Senior Project Manager, Chesterfield Economic Development
Phone: 804-318-8550
Email: shrevet@chesterfield.gov

April 3, 2017

Announcement, News Article

Chesterfield EDA Welcomes Richmond Volleyball Club to Stonebridge

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

March 16, 2017

News Article, River City Sportsplex

Corrigan Sports Signs River City Sportsplex Contracts Through 2020

River City Sportsplex will play host to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Champions Cup and Capital Cup through 2020, thanks to recently signed contracts with Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc. These two events are the largest lacrosse tournaments in the Richmond region. They are the first contracts signed with River City Sportsplex since Chesterfield County purchased the facility in December 2016. Corrigan previously was contracted through 2018.

Lee Corrigan, president of Corrigan Sports Enterprises, said, “Chesterfield County, and its world-class facilities, have played an integral part in the expansion of the IWLCA’s recruiting tournaments. River City Sportsplex remains the premiere public venue of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, so we look forward to hosting many more successful tournaments in Chesterfield County for years to come.”

Both events will bring more than 14,000 visitors to the region, including 350+ NCAA women’s lacrosse coaches to recruit top talent. Teams will travel from across the U.S. and Canada for each of these two events, with 95 percent traveling from out of the Richmond region. Richmond Region Tourism reports that approximately 10,000 room nights in hotels throughout Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties and the city of Richmond are filled for just one of these events.

Chesterfield County is the only location in the U.S. to host two IWLCA National College recruiting events. Other IWLCA events have been held in such places as the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Disney World and Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Denver.

County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey said, “Our goal is to keep sports tourism thriving and to attract events that best fit our facilities. We are so pleased that our relationship with Corrigan Sports continues to grow. We want to showcase Chesterfield County as a sports tourism destination … not a place you drive through, but a place to come to.”

From a regional perspective, sports tourism is making a major economic impact according to Richmond Region Tourism.

“Corrigan events are a boon to our tax base and quality of life, and extending this partnership through 2020 is a major win for the Richmond region,” said Jack Berry, president and CEO, Richmond Region Tourism. “It used to be that the summer months were a ‘need period’ for our hotels. Today, sports events, like Corrigan’s Capital Cup and Champions Cup, drive hotel room nights throughout the year.”

According to Berry, previously July had been a down time for hotels in the area, but now, due to the increase in sports tourism, it is a peak month for hotel occupancy. The economic impact is bigger than just the hotel rooms the athletes stay in since they travel with their families, eat in restaurants, shop and visit regional attractions.

In fiscal 2016, sports tourism had an economic impact of $37.7 million in the county and brought in $1.4 million from tax revenue.

About Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc.

Corrigan Sports Enterprises, CSE, was established in 1991 with the goal of creating, managing and implementing sports and event marketing opportunities for the corporate community From Conception to Fruition. In that time, CSE grew into one of the strongest marketing organizations in the Baltimore/Washington area. In 2010, the addition of the Oakland (Ca.) Running Festival and the partnership with the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association enabled CSE to expand nationally.

Contact Person: Danny Bonifas
Contact Email: BonifasD@chesterfield.gov
Contact Phone: 804-796-7045

February 23, 2017

News Article, River City Sportsplex

Sports Tourism Season 2017 Kicks off at River City Sportsplex

CCL event last weekend was first at facility since county acquisition

This past weekend represented two firsts for Chesterfield County: the start of the 2017 sports tourism season and the first event to take place at River City Sportsplex since the county acquired and began operation of the facility.

The winter edition of the Club Champions League (CCL) College Showcase took place at River City Sportsplex and Mary B. Stratton Park Feb. 3-5. CCL clubs from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. sent 128 of the region’s top youth club teams to Chesterfield to compete in front of 70 college soccer coaches.

Unique to CCL, the College Showcase events are league matches under the club-versus-club format where players can also show off their talents in hopes of being discovered by college coaches. One local soccer club, FC Richmond, sent six of their teams to take part in the showcase-style event.

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation staff did an “outstanding job” in helping the CCL this past weekend, said Brian Kuk, CCL executive director.

“In previous years, my team had to arrive early Friday morning to clean all the fields, address the soccer goals and nets and sweep the concrete pad, among other things, in preparation for the start of the tournament,” Kuk said. “This year, we didn’t have to do any of that, which saved us about three hours of work and allowed us to focus on the most important aspect of our event — our clubs and their members.”

“River City Sportsplex under Chesterfield County’s ownership was a huge upgrade, and we look forward to working with the county for our College Showcase events for years to come.”

The upcoming schedule for River City Sportsplex includes two weekends of the Ultimate Cup, set for Feb. 25-26 and March 4-5 followed by four weekends of the Jefferson Cup, which is known as one of the top-rated youth soccer tournaments in the country.

With tournaments being held for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer throughout the year, Chesterfield County’s economic impact from sports tourism was $37.7 million in fiscal year 2016. This was a $12.9 million increase from the past fiscal year, with $7.1 million of that total a result of new sport tourism events. In tax revenue alone, the county received $1.4 million during that same time period.

February 9, 2017

News Article

Metro Richmond Exports Initiative Lunch and Learn

Join us Thursday, February 9th for the
Metro Richmond Exports Initiative’s Lunch + Learn Session

When:
Thursday February 9, 2017 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM EST

Where:
Williams Mullen
200 S 10th St
Suite 1600
Richmond, VA 23219

Our expert presenter:
Rosanne Jacuzzi, Partner, Williams Mullen

Ms. Jacuzzi has more than 12 years of experience advising companies with export controls and international trade law, including U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) regulations, and similar requirements of other countries. She also advises companies on compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection import regulations. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Ms. Jacuzzi served as in-house International Trade Counsel for several Fortune 500 companies. In those roles she managed export and sanctions compliance programs and provided advice, support and training to the global business units on compliance with the laws and regulations governing global export controls, sanctions and customs laws. She has advised on the appropriate control jurisdiction for products, conducted risk assessments, prepared compliance programs and prepared voluntary disclosures for risk mitigation. Ms. Jacuzzi frequently speaks and provides training on export controls, economic sanctions and import compliance.

Boxed lunches will be provided by MREI for all registered attendees. We hope you will join us!

Who should attend: Any business owner/manager in the Richmond MSA interested in export growth opportunities for their business.

Why you should attend: Want to start exporting, or increase your export sales, but don’t know where to start? Interested in hearing from subject matter experts and businesses who have been in your shoes? The MREI Lunch + Learn series is a monthly informal seminar which will provide local business leaders with a social and educational venue to learn more about exporting. Lunch + Learns will focus on a different topic each month, bringing together subject matter experts and experienced exporters – your peers who are willing to share their stories to guide businesses like yours toward exporting success.

Register Today!

What is the Metro Richmond Exports Initiative? The Metro Richmond Exports Initiative (MREI) is a partnership between the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP), Virginia’s Gateway Region (VGR), and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Urban & Regional Analysis (CURA@VCU). Funded by JPMorgan Chase and Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s International Trade division, MREI was established to educate central Virginia businesses about the benefits of exporting and drive increased levels of exporting in the Richmond MSA. MREI provides tools to help businesses navigate the robust export services environment in Central Virginia; programs designed to help businesses begin exporting or increase export sales; grants and scholarships for export-related activities; and outreach to local businesses to increase export awareness.

For more information visit, metrorichmondexports.com

January 31, 2017

News Article

Kroger Completes Remodeling of Chester Store

Kroger has completed an extensive remodeling of its store in Chester.

The company said it invested $3.5 million in the Chester store located at 12726 Jefferson Davis Highway in Chesterfield County.

The remodel included the addition of ClickList, Kroger’s new online ordering service. The store celebrated with a grand “reopening” on Tuesday, January 17th.

The renovations included a new décor, paint and updates to many departments.

The Chesterfield Kroger store opened in 2007. This is the first remodel for the store.

Kroger’s mid-Atlantic division operates 121 stores, 116 pharmacies and 87 fuel centers in Virginia.

January 18, 2017

News Article

Metro Richmond Exports Initiative Looking for Chesterfield Companies

The Metro Richmond Exports Initiative (MREI) is in search of local businesses interested in participating in an upcoming Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) international trade mission. They have several grants that will cover the $2,500 trade mission registration fee for qualified trade mission attendees – businesses are only responsible for travel costs. This is a wonderful opportunity which we would encourage you to pursue, or share with your clients and business partners.

Benefits from participating in the VEDP trade mission include:

Assistance identifying which international market is best suited for your product or service
In-country support to identify the best potential customers and partners
Scheduled one-on-one meetings with prospective customers and partners
Translation services and culture coaching where necessary

Interested businesses do not need to know where they would like to travel (VEDP can help them through that process), but should be ready to spend a week abroad and have the capability (or the ability to develop the capacity) to fill international orders. This opportunity is for businesses who produce both services and goods.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Grace Festa with Greater Richmond Partnership via e-mail at gfesta@grpva.com or by phone at (804) 643-3227. Companies must travel by the end of June to qualify.

For more information visit, metrorichmondexports.com

December 8, 2016

News Article, River City Sportsplex

Chesterfield County to Purchase River City Sportsplex

Community Open House to be Held to View Property

Today at Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors work session an announcement was made about the county’s intent to purchase the 115 acre River City Sportsplex, formerly known as Sports Quest and currently owned and operated by Sports Complex Holdings LLC.

“This is a huge opportunity for the county residents to get more use of this facility and increase sports tourism,” said Dr. Joe Casey, county administrator. “With sports tourism being a growing business in Chesterfield, the upcoming community open house will give residents a chance to view the property and ask questions about the purchase and the future potential of the complex.”

A community open house for residents to ask questions about the planned purchase of the River City Sportsplex is scheduled for Nov. 2 at Clover Hill High School, in the Student Commons. Residents may come at any time to the school and the sports complex between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to ask questions and tour the facilities.

The county is offering Sports Complex Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Shaw Industries Group, Inc., $5.5 million to purchase the property. This is below the 2012 property’s appraised value of $17.2 million. Funds currently allocated for recreational development sports tourism will be used for the purchase.

The Board of Supervisors will vote whether to purchase the property at its Nov. 16 work session scheduled at 3 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room.

Local sports organizations and school teams use the facility heavily all year and are at capacity. With tournaments being held for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer throughout the year, Chesterfield County’s economic impact from sports tourism was $37.7 million in fiscal year 2016. This was a $12.9 million increase from the past fiscal year, with $7.1 million of that total a result of new sport tourism events. In tax revenue alone, the county received $1.4 million during that same time period.

“Shaw is pleased that the River City Sportsplex will continue to grow and benefit the community as the centerpiece of local sports tourism under the Chesterfield County’s ownership,” said Susan Farris, Director of Corporate Communications with Shaw Industries Group, Inc. “In the wake of the project as initially envisioned not coming to fruition, Shaw improved the complex and worked closely with the community to attract significant sports events and millions of dollars of economic impact to the greater Richmond area. We are pleased that the availability of a dozen Shaw Sports Turf fields in one location is – and will continue to be – a draw for large regional and national youth sports tournaments.”

The property is centrally located and there is easy access from the Interstate and major highway systems. Management and operations of the River City Sports Complex, if purchased, will be by the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Revenue from rental fees and tournament charges will be used to pay for the operating costs. The undeveloped portions of the property will allow for the expansion of the sports fields to meet future growth in the county along with the possibility of developing other compatible recreational facilities on the site.

In 2010, the county originally invested $4.3 million to assist in development of the complex and lease the use of eight lighted all-weather synthetic turf fields Monday thru Thursday. Currently, Chesterfield is in its sixth year of the 20 year lease. Purchasing River City Complex would provide the county seven day a week access providing the opportunity to increase resident’s use and grow sports tourism.

# # #

October 26, 2016

Announcement, Midlothian, News Article

Kroger Marketplace Has Grand Re-Opening in Midlothian

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

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.

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.

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.

September 28, 2016

News Article

Vastly Awards Contract to Jacobs Engineering

$2 Billion Project Advances To Environmental Permitting & Site Engineering Design Phase With Jacobs Award

Vastly, also known as Tranlin, Inc., today announced it has awarded a contract to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. The award was issued to further develop Vastly’s greenfield construction mega project in Chesterfield County, VA. The project scope includes preliminary engineering and design, as well as environmental permitting, of the new Vastly facility, which will produce biostimulant, soil amendment fertilizers and paper tissue products, made from straw sourced from local farmers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Jacobs is responsible for supporting permit acquisition and developing the overall site design, which includes pulping facilities, tissue making, and fertilizer production using Vastly’s proprietary technologies. Significant engineering is required to file for over 20 permits that will involve at least five regulatory agencies. An exhaustive examination of the company’s activities and their implications on the environment will be required in order for the company to receive the necessary environmental permits.

“We anticipate a concentrated effort in conjunction with the state and federal regulators over the next 18-20 months, which is typical for a project of this scale, to prepare for operations meeting or exceeding all environmental standards,” said Robert Burnley, Senior Advisor to CEO of Vastly and former Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

In order to build the multi-faceted, advanced manufacturing facilities in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Vastly will leverage technology developed by its parent company, Shandong Tranlin Paper Company Ltd., to implement proprietary straw pulping processes to extract fulvic acid and humic acid biostimulants used to restore soil health.

“We are very excited to partner with Jacobs, a firm with an exceptionally strong reputation, expertise and track record in engineering pulp and paper projects all over the world,” said Jerry Z. Peng, Vastly’s Chairman and CEO. “This new award marks a major milestone for the project and it highlights our commitment to building a world-class, eco-friendly production facility in Chesterfield County.”

“This award is the culmination of great collaboration by a dedicated Vastly team from China and the U.S. We were fortunate to engage some of the world’s leading firms along the selection process, and we are excited to engage Jacobs with its extensive experience in complex, large scale projects. This represents a major step forward in developing a world class earth restorative operating facility,” said Jason Dunaway, Vastly’s Senior Vice President and Project Executive.

Vastly’s Better Roots biostimulant products will be used by farmers to boost yield, improve long-term soil health and enhance nutrient uptake. The straw pulp fibers are processed into premium paper towels, napkins, bathroom and facial tissue products. These paper products will be tree-free, chlorine-free, compostable, and assembled through an earth-friendly production process.

ABOUT VASTLY

Vastly, also known as Tranlin, Inc., applies world-leading proven technologies to produce fine quality tree-free paper and tissue products and highly effective plant-derived organic acid biostimulant, soil amendment fertilizers for consumer and agricultural use. Vastly’s mission is to build a future-friendly company that makes safe, earth-restorative products from farms, not forests, for American families and farmers. Tranlin, Inc. is the U.S. based subsidiary of Shandong Tranlin Paper Company Ltd., located in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

September 28, 2016

News Article

Tranlin Changes Name to Vastly

Tranlin, Inc. has changed its name to Vastly. The company is investing $2 billion to construct an advanced manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia that will create 2,000 jobs in the region by 2020.

They issued the following statement on its website.

As our aspirations have grown, so has our identity. We sought a name that captures the main idea of our mission: to make superior products in a way that gives back to the earth and restores our natural environment.

We’re thinking differently, on a global scale and a local scale, adopting a long-view perspective. We’re focusing our efforts to uncover new and ingenious ways to make products in harmony with natural systems.

We believe in the vast potential of this way of thinking. That’s why we’re Vastly.

Company official, John Stacey, senior vice president for marketing and sales, said the Tranlin moniker will remain for legal purposes.

“We are in the process of transitioning consumer and public facing branding to Vastly while leveraging the awareness of Tranlin Inc. that has been created over the last couple of years,” said Stacey.

September 14, 2016

Meadowville News, News Article

Niagara Bottling establishing $95 million manufacturing operation in Chesterfield

New Mid-Atlantic operation will create 76 new jobs in county

CHESTERFIELD – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Niagara Bottling LLC, a family-owned and operated bottled beverage supplier, will invest $95 million to establish a 557,000 square-foot, manufacturing and bottling operation at Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County. The company utilizes state-of-the-art filtration to produce its Niagara brand and private label bottled water. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland for the project, which will create 76 new jobs.

“Recruiting companies such as Niagara Bottling is at the heart of our efforts to create jobs, diversify and build a new Virginia economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Niagara is a leading bottled water supplier in the United States and has been family owned and operated since 1963. We are pleased Niagara chose Chesterfield County for this significant expansion, and are confident the company will thrive in the Commonwealth, thanks to our strategic location and motivated workforce.”

“I welcome Niagara Bottling to the Commonwealth. Chesterfield will be a strategic location for its new manufacturing and bottling center,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “I am pleased we were able to assist the company in their east coast expansion and efforts to reach a growing customer base. The Commonwealth offers the best overall business environment for a company to grow, and I am confident Niagara Bottling will benefit from our world-class assets. Congratulations to Niagara Bottling and Chesterfield County!”

Niagara Bottling is the largest private label bottled water supplier in the U.S., supplying major retailers across the nation. Headquartered in Ontario, California, the company began as a family business in 1963 by offering five-gallon containers for home and office delivery. Niagara expanded in the early 1990s to offer single-serve private label bottle water for grocery, club, convenience and wholesale customers and has established itself as a national leader in high quality, affordable bottled water.

“Niagara Bottling, LLC is committed to providing a high-quality product with unmatched quality service to its customers,” said Brian Hess, Executive Vice President of Operation for Niagara. “The Chesterfield, VA location allows the company to fulfill that commitment by providing an optimal location that is close to both its existing and growing customer market.”

Chesterfield County Economic Development worked with The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Greater Richmond Partnership and Thomas W. Turner, SIOR, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Hart Industrial Group to secure this project for Chesterfield.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Niagara Bottling, LLC to Chesterfield,” said Steve Elswick, Chairman of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. “Niagara falls within two of the county’s target clusters, food and beverage and advanced manufacturing. Niagara’s manufacturing and filling facility will be the most efficient and sustainable in the world. The 76 manufacturing jobs are just the type of employment opportunities we want for our Chesterfield residents.

“Niagara is the largest private-label beverage supplier in the country, and bottled water is the number one bottled beverage in the nation,” said Dorothy Jaeckle, Bermuda District Supervisor. “We are extremely pleased that such an outstanding brand has joined the list of leading brands that continue to choose Meadowville. I am particularly impressed with Niagara’s commitment to their employees and to the communities in which they have located.”

“It is great to have Niagara Bottling coming to Chesterfield County,” said Delegate Riley Ingram. “Meadowville is an excellent location and the jobs are very much appreciated and needed in this area.”

“I am extremely grateful that Niagara Bottling LLC has decided to invest $95 million in Virginia, particularly Chesterfield County,” said Senator Rosalyn Dance. “This creation of jobs and the business investment will further diversify Virginia’s economy. An investment of this magnitude doesn’t happen without a tremendous amount of hard work and coordination between the Administration and all of the involved stakeholders. On behalf of the region I am extremely grateful.”

Choate Construction, who has partnered with Niagara on their last seven facilities, will be constructing the new facility.

Meadowville is a village built at the intersection of roads and rivers, information and infrastructure, power and people. At Meadowville, tomorrow’s businesses are connecting today. Niagara Bottling joins Northrup Grumman, Amazon, Capital One and Medline in this premiere location in Chesterfield County. Meadowville is one of Virginia’s largest, most innovative, and most connected employment centers. Its 900 acres are connected to world markets by the James River, the Richmond International Airport, Interstates 64, 95, and 85 and the tree lined Meadowville Technology Parkway.

###

Contact:
Derieth Sutton, Niagara Bottling LLC, (949) 910-3950, dsutton@niagarawater.com
Garrett Hart, Director, Chesterfield Economic Development (804) 318-8550, ghart@chesterfieldbusines.com

August 16, 2016

News Article

Take the Blueprint Chesterfield Survey

Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors and School Board are interested in learning what’s important to Chesterfield’s citizens and businesses. Blueprint Chesterfield, a newly created campaign, is focused around an online, five-question survey encouraging citizens to share their thoughts and feelings about the community.

Feedback from the survey will be used to shape a five-year plan for Chesterfield County’s upcoming budget planning process. Take the Blueprint Chesterfield Community Survey.

July 19, 2016

News Article

Fajon selects Chesterfield for East Coast manufacturing facility

Company will hire 25-30 workers

CHESTERFIELD, VA – Chesterfield County Economic Development announces that Fajon Turbine Parts & Repairs will establish a office and manufacturing center in the county.

Fajon will begin operations this month at 8310 Shell Road, near Interstate 95. The steam and gas turbine replacement parts and service company has leased a 43,210-square-foot building. Fajon will use the Chesterfield site to do repairs and manufacture renewal parts. The company expects to be fully operational by September.

CEO and president Jerry Booden said Fajon’s expansion to the East Coast should help the Phoenix-based company grow with greater access to different markets.

“The Richmond area proved to be the best option available because of the availability of similar industries to ours,” Booden said. “Our new location is perfect logistically and we look forward to utilizing the Richmond Marine Terminal.”

“I think it’s a strategic location for them and they saw the value of locating right off Interstate 95. This just was a great fit for them because the facility already housed a similar industry,” noted Tina Shreve, Senior Project Manager with Chesterfield County Economic Development.

The existing facility in Chesterfield had exactly what the company was searching for. Fajon’s new space was the former home to Magellan Systems and is appropriately equipped for the new operation, including a heavy duty crane system.

“I think ultimately, Fajon Turbine Parts & Repairs located in Chesterfield County because they were comfortable with our experience in dealing with industrial-based companies,” Tina Shreve said.

The company’s clients have included independent utility companies and U.S.-based institutional refineries. The company plans to hire between 25 and 30 workers.

“We look forward to further assisting Fajon to make Chesterfield County a successful operation for them,” said Shreve.

In addition to Chesterfield Economic Development, Fajon was assisted in the site selection process by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Greater Richmond Partnership. David Williams and Stuart Cary of Colliers International represented ownership, while Dawn Griggs of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer handled the deal for Fajon.

For more information, contact Tina Shreve at (804) 318-8550, or email at ShreveT@chesterfield.gov

June 15, 2016

News Article

Steam Bell Beer Works Opens in Chesterfield

Chesterfield County residents, devoted to craft beer, now have their own local brewery to quench their thirst.

Steam Bell Beer Works, at 1717 Oak Lake Boulevard, held its grand opening Saturday featuring unique craft beers and a laid-back atmosphere in a family-operated brewery.

Steam Bell Beer Works was founded on a passion for community, inspired by the desire to celebrate the end of a long day with great beer and even better friends.

Thousands of craft brew enthusiasts enjoyed the various varieties throughout the grand opening weekend and by the close of the weekend-long event, Steam Bell had gone through more than 60 kegs, with supporters promising to come back again and again.

June 11, 2016

News Article

Chesterfield County: 4th fastest job-growth of counties in U.S.A.

From December 2014 to December 2015, employment increased in 308 of the 342 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday.

During that period, Chesterfield County added jobs at the fourth-fastest rate in the country. From the 4th quarter of 2014 to the 4th quarter of 2015, employment in Chesterfield County grew by 6.0%. The increase for the entire United States was 1.9% for the same period.

County employment and wage data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which provides the only detailed quarterly and annual universe count of establishments, employment, and wages at the county, MSA, state, and national levels by detailed industry. These detailed data are published within six months following the end of each calendar quarter.

Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm

June 9, 2016

News Article, River City Sportsplex

Chesterfield Now Covers NFHCA Top Recruit Tournament at River City Sportsplex (Video)

Video coverage of the exciting NFHCA Top Recruit Tournament at River City Sportsplex

Breakfast with the Buyers

Are you interested in doing business with Chesterfield County?
Please join us for “Breakfast with the Buyers”.

Vendors are encouraged to attend this information session sponsored by the Chesterfield County Economic Development and Purchasing Departments.

During this session, County Purchasing staff will provide a brief overview on the County’s procurement processes and share upcoming opportunities related to the featured commodities.

As County Purchasing will take over procurement responsibility for school construction July 1, 2016, this session will offer information on specific changes vendors may realize during this transition.

Don’t miss the opportunity to network with the senior contract officers and other procurement staff directly assigned to these projects!

Featured Buyers:

Vin Kamatchi, Senior Contract Officer
Delores Ingram, Senior Contract Officer

Featured Commodities:

Construction
Furniture
Architectural and Engineering Services

Date, Time and Location:

Thursday, June 2, 2016

8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Meadowdale Library
4301 Meadowdale Boulevard
North Chesterfield, VA 23234

This event is FREE but seating is limited.

Registration is REQUIRED to attend.

Register Today!

May 13, 2016

News Article

Join Chippenham Hospital Swift Creek ER for Community Day

Chippenham Hospital Swift Creek ER invites you to the community day event on Saturday March 12th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

There are lots of fun activities planned for the entire family to enjoy, as well as free health screenings, breakfast and lunch, opportunities to meet some of the area’s first responders, and the Frog Clinic for children.

March 11, 2016

News Article

Chesterfield Recognized for “Best of Economic Development in Virginia”

Chesterfield County is being recognized in the first annual “Best of Economic Development in Virginia.”

Chesterfield Economic Development will be recognized in the “Virginia’s Best Large Market Economic Development Agencies” category by Southern Business and Development Magazine. The recognition is part of a review and article covering the best in economic development in 30 different Virginia categories.

Chesterfield was selected by the members of Southern Business and Development’s Southern Economic Development Roundtable at their annual meeting in January. The Roundtable members include current and former Secretaries of Commerce along with educators, economists, consultants and local economic developers. The top three vote recipients for each category are cited. In the case of a tie, a fourth winner is listed.

‘We are extremely pleased to be selected as Best in Virginia”, said Jay Stegmaier, County Administrator. “This is recognition of the long term support and effort the Board of Supervisors and the County devotes to growing businesses in Chesterfield. We have one of the best economic development teams in the world” added Stegmaier.

The recognition will be in the March/April issue of Southern Business & Development which will feature the “Best of Economic Development in Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.”

Southern Business and Development is a media property that has covered economic development in the American South, the world’s fourth-largest economy, for more than 20 years. Southern Business and Development is frequently quoted by CNN, Time, AP, ABC News, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, PBS, The Huffington Post, Yahoo, the BBC and dozens of other electronic media and in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, USA Today and The New York Times. The magazine’s per issue circulation averages 12,814.

Southern Business and Development targets c-suite executive readers in key markets and states located outside the American South. States where readership is emphasized with each edition include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the Northeast, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio in the Midwest and California and Washington on the Pacific coast. Approximately 900 site consultants and/or SIOR members doing business in the U.S. receive each edition.

“Chesterfield Economic Development is one of the top performing economic development agencies in the South or the U.S. for that matter. Their list of major successes continues to grow and is evidence of the quality and consistency of the program” said Michael Randle, Editor and Publisher of Southern Business and Development.

Contact:
Michael C. Randle, Editor & Publisher, Southern Business & Development
(205) 871-1220, michael@sb-d.com

Garrett Hart, Director, Chesterfield Economic Development
(804) 318-8550, ghart@chesterfieldbusiness.com

March 9, 2016

News Article

Lunch & Learn for Small Business Scheduled

Let’s do LUNCH….and LEARN how to grow your business.

Join Chesterfield County Economic Development as we partner with First Citizens Bank to educate and support new and small businesses. Take advantage of this FREE learning opportunity.

We will be presenting the following topics to assist with your business needs.

Topics & Dates

Employee Benefits
Tuesday, May 10, 2016

International (Going Global)
Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Registration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. – Presentation noon to 1 p.m.

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT SESSION TODAY!

February 9, 2016

News Article

The Fresh Market Opens New Store in Chesterfield

The Fresh Market, Inc. opened a new store in Chesterfield County this morning, marking the company’s 14th store in the state of Virginia.

At its newest location at 4600 Commonwealth Centre Parkway, in the Commonwealth Center shopping center, the specialty grocer’s full-service philosophy will incorporate unparalleled product selection and expert customer service in an inviting atmosphere.

The Fresh Market employs a team of friendly, well- trained professionals who pride themselves on providing the highest level of customer service to shoppers. Employees can often be found offering cooking advice or sharing their favorite tips to help customers create the perfect meal.

“We are excited to open our new store in Chesterfield County and to expand our reach in Virginia,” said Rick Anicetti, the company’s chief executive officer. “We look forward to introducing The Fresh Market’s concept of quality, great tasting food, excellent customer service and a distinctive atmosphere to an expanded customer base, and we look forward to offering neighboring communities an inspiring new food shopping experience.”

Doors opened at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, and grand opening activities will include chef demonstrations, food sampling throughout the store, and drawings for The Fresh Market gift cards. A sample-sized bag of the company’s gourmet coffee and a reusable shopping bag will be free to the first 1,000 customers.

The new store will house over 23,000 square feet of culinary delights, including a bakery that produces 30 freshly baked breads and 14 different pie varieties daily, a full service meat counter with freshly ground beef, a wide selection of ready-to-serve entrées, fresh seafood delivered to the store several times per week, and more than 200 imported and domestic cheeses, as well as a bountiful produce department with more than 400 items and a large organic selection.

“The Fresh Market’s atmosphere is truly unique,” says Anicetti. “Our customers enjoy shopping in an environment that appeals to all the senses, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and bread right out of the oven, the sound of relaxing music, soft lighting, and the ability to select and taste fresh, high-quality products all work together to create a place where customers are inspired to make every meal extraordinary.”

The Fresh Market is excited to be an active member of the Chesterfield County community. The company has made a significant investment in the market and the new store is bringing approximately 90 new jobs to the area, most of which are being filled locally.

The Fresh Market is committed to the communities where it does business, and its employees enthusiastically support local organizations that are important to the stores’ communities and customers. The new store will proudly partner with FeedMore by providing regular donations of food. In addition, as part of the company’s focus on providing the freshest, best quality products, the store will feature a growing number of local and regional products from area growers and producers.

About The Fresh Market, Inc.

Founded in 1982, The Fresh Market, Inc. is a specialty grocery retailer focused on providing high-quality products in a unique and inviting atmosphere with a high level of customer service. The company currently operates 178 stores in 27 states across the U.S. The Fresh Market is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com.

October 28, 2015

News Article

Tranlin Breaks Ground on $2 billion Advanced Manufacturing Facility

Tranlin, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a leading Chinese pulp and paper company, officially broke ground today on its first U.S. operation, a $2 billion advanced manufacturing facility. Tranlin’s investment is located in Chesterfield, Virginia, and will generate more than 2,000 direct jobs in Virginia by 2020.

“The Tranlin facility in Chesterfield will create thousands of jobs and millions in new agriculture revenues, all of which will support our shared vision for a stronger new Virginia Economy. I am thrilled to help break ground on a project that will have enormous economic development implications for our entire Commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe about the project.

Tranlin’s Chesterfield County facility will use the company’s innovative, proprietary technology to produce tree-free, natural color, straw fiber paper tissue products made exclusively from agricultural field waste such as wheat straw and corn stalks. In addition, Tranlin will produce humus-based organic fertilizer products using residues from the papermaking process.

Environmental sustainability is deeply embedded in Tranlin’s culture and guides the company’s ongoing pursuit of innovation and technological advancement. Tranlin’s products are a positive contribution to both American consumers and the agricultural sector. The company’s manufacturing process is referred to as the “Golden Circle” because the straw paper manufacturing process creates a fully renewable and sustainable loop:

At the top of the circle, agricultural byproducts such as wheat and corn stalks are used as raw material to make paper products that include bath, kitchen, facial and travel tissue, as well as tableware. Then residues from the papermaking process are refined into highly effective, humus-based organic fertilizer. The circle is complete when this fertilizer is ultimately used to grow crops, often requiring less water, chemical fertilizer, and pesticides than traditional fertilizers.

“We are even more confident now than we were a year ago that our project is being built on a solid foundation that will allow it to be successful in Chesterfield, Virginia,” said Hongfa Li, the Chairman and President of Shandong Tranlin Paper Company Limited. “After another year of extraordinary work by
the entire Tranlin team and many supportive friends in Virginia, we know that all the key factors including environmental, legal, cultural, market, engineering and human resources are in place.”

“We are so excited to be embarking on this next phase of our work together in Virginia, and more importantly, we are so grateful of and encouraged by the supportive community in Chesterfield and Virginia,” said Jerry Peng, the Chairman and CEO of Tranlin, Inc.. “We will continue the close collaboration with all the stakeholders here. It is our goal to build a very sustainable partnership with the local community, the farming sector and our vendors. Over the past year we have built an excellent core team who have driven the project this far. We expect to accelerate our recruiting and project development.”

“The groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes next chapter of development for Shandong Tranlin,” said Xuanyu Zhang, Deputy Mayor of Liaocheng, Shandong, where Shandong Tranlin Paper Company Limited is headquartered in China, “We sincerely hope the Tranlin US project will become a showcase of cooperation between China and US that benefits us both.” Mr. Zhang is in Virginia leading a senior delegation from Liaocheng with both key municipal government officers and entrepreneurs who attended the groundbreaking, and signed a Sister City-County MOU between Liaocheng, Shandong and Chesterfield, Virginia at a luncheon in Chesterfield celebrating the Tranlin Project groundbreaking.
Mr. ZHU Hong, Minister for Commercial Affairs of Chinese Embassy in the U.S., also lead the senior delegation to the groundbreaking ceremony and made an enthusiastic speech to the audience.

Tranlin’s purchase of stalks and straw from corn and small grain producers creates a new market for agricultural residuals that are typically left in the field as waste. Based on the agricultural supply chain opportunities associated with the project, the economic benefit to farmers in this region alone could exceed $50 million per year once the company is operating at full capacity. Tranlin has already begun working with many farmers in the region to procure needed agricultural products for manufacturing operations.

Dorothy Jaeckle and Steve Elswick, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors

“We are excited to celebrate with Tranlin as they break ground on the first phase of this historic project. The 2,000 jobs that will be created by this facility will have a transformative effect on the Jefferson Davis Corridor, the County and the entire region. We will continue to work diligently with our partners at the state, regional, and local levels to support Tranlin as they endeavor to manufacture their innovative products here in Chesterfield County while staying focused on the environment and sustainability,” said Steve Elswick, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

Tranlin’s presence in the market will also help preserve farmland by providing farmers a new opportunity to derive additional economic return from their land and equipment, creating positive economic incentives to maintain it in farming use. The harvest of straw in the spring and corn stalks in the fall for use by Tranlin will be two new cash crops for Virginia growers, in addition to other fibrous products from the surrounding area.

About Tranlin, Inc.

Tranlin, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese pulp and paper company that applies innovative proprietary technologies to produce straw fiber, unbleached paper products and superior organic fertilizers.
Tranlin is investing $2 billion to construct an advanced manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia that will create 2,000 jobs in the region by 2020. The facility will utilize straw purchased from the region’s farmers to produce two product lines using leading environmentally friendly engineering methods:

High quality facial and bath tissue, paper towels and napkins that are straw-fiber based, chlorine-free and compostable
Fertilizer with a high concentration of fulvic acid, suitable for commercial farmers and home gardeners seeking organic solutions for improved crop yields and quality, soil restoration and environmental benefits.

Tranlin brings sustainable manufacturing, advanced technologies and a naturally responsible focus on the environment from China to the banks of the James River.

October 22, 2015