Building Specialties will be leasing a newly-constructed, 17,000 sq. ft. facility in Oak Lake Business Center. The company expanded their operations into Chesterfield to provide a convenient location for their customers on the south side of the river. They are a wholesale distributor of building materials and supplies.
Archived News and Events
Sun Chemical is constructing a 54,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in the Appomottox Industrial Center in the Walthall area. The company is consolidating facilities that are currently located in the Richmond area into this new, state-of-the-art facility. The company will be manufacturing printing inks.
ITT Educational Services, Inc., a leading proprietary provider of technology-oriented postsecondary degree programs, has received approval from the State Council of Higher Education for a new start-up college in Chesterfield County.
Classes are scheduled to begin in December 1998. The Chesterfield campus is located at 300 Gateway Center Parkway. It will be the second ITT Technical Institute in Virginia. “We are delighted that ITT Educational Services, Inc. chose Chesterfield County for its new campus,” said Jim Dunn, Assistant Director of the Chesterfield County Department of Economic Development. “The new ITT Technical Institute will help support our efforts to develop a cluster of high-tech companies in the Richmond area, because a primary need of these companies is skilled workers. We think the new ITT Technical Institute will be of long-range importance to Chesterfield County, because it can help provide a high-tech infrastructure here.”
The Chesterfield campus offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program in Electronics Engineering Technology. Additional programs of study will be added in the future depending on market demand.
E & R Sales has purchased the vacant Safeway store in Market Square in Brandermill. Previously located in a 10,000 square foot facility in the Brandermill Trade Center, the purchase of this 35,000 square foot vacated grocery store allows E & R to expand their sales and warehouse capacity for their mylar balloon and pens business. The expansion also brings an additional 16 jobs to the area.
In addition to E & R Sales, the company opened a new business called Memories Galore, a scrapbooking store in this facility. Scrapbooking is the craft industry’s hottest trend and has become a $200 million industry.
AlliedSignal recently completed their manufacturing plant in the Bermuda Hundred complex by 11,644 square feet. This expansion will add 18 new employees and cost approximately $22 million. The expansion was needed to increase their capacity to produce compounded plastic pellets. These pellets are then shipped to manufacturers of industrial and consumer products. This project was the largest corporate investment in the Polymers Division this year.
The July issue of Money magazine rates the Richmond MSA as the best medium sized city in the south to live. In fact Virginia swept all three categories. Among metropolitan areas in the South with populations of 250,000 to 999,999, Richmond was ranked number 1.
According to Money magazine’s Website, money.com, the best places to live were determined in part by a phone survey of households nationwide. Those surveyed rated 37 livability factors on a scale of 1 to 10. A consultant then gathered information from a variety of sources, such as the FBI’s crime statistics and national housing prices, for the nation’s 300 largest metropolitan statistical areas.
“Once the survey and data were together, we crunched the numbers and gave each place a score based on how it fared on the quality of life factors,” the magazine said. “The things that Americans consider most important, like clean air and water, low crime, and good schools, received extra weight in the calculation.”
The Money article can be viewed here.
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers students an opportunity to participate in the International Baccalaureate Program. The IB program is a comprehensive two-year program (for junior and seniors) that allows its graduates to fulfill requirements of various national education systems. A recommended pre-IB program for grades nine and ten is also available. Most of the prominent colleges in the United States have developed policies recognizing the IB diploma and grant advanced placement and course credit, as well as qualifying students to receive scholarship money.
This program enables Chesterfield County students the opportunity to develop talents to make them competitive in the global business world. This internationally recognized program is often an asset for families who relocate here with international companies. The IB program allows their children to pursue a rigorous academic curriculum which is recognized in their country.
For more information please contact Mrs. Faye Rollings-Carter, Midlothian IB Coordinator at 378-2440 or Carolyn Henly, Meadowbrook IB Coordinator at 743-3675.
The BIGS Center at John Tyler Community College offers tailored training programs for business, industry and government agencies. Programs can be presented in your work place or at the college. Services offered include pre-employment training, on-going training programs, apprenticeship training programs and contract computer training seminars.
Pre-employment training:
In cooperation with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance’s Workforce Services Division, the BIGS Center will assist new or expanding companies in developing and presenting pre-employment training programs for prospective or screened applicants to determine their abilities, potential and cooperative attitude.
Support to Existing Industries:
The BIGS Center works with existing industry to develop on-going training programs. They will bring the training to you and develop it with your information. If confidentiality requirements exist, the BIGS Center and industry trainers will honor the need to protect company proprietary information. They will work with other Virginia community college to standardize your training needs at all your business locations throughout the Commonwealth.
Apprenticeship Training Programs:
In cooperation with the Department of Labor the BIGS Center can work with your company to establish an apprenticeship program. There are more than 500 various apprenticeship programs available in Virginia. An apprenticeship program can be designed for a business with their specific requirements and includes formal classroom training and documented work experience. For more information call (804) 861-2762
Contract Computer Training:
The BIGS Center offers one or two-day contract computer training seminars for software packages including Windows 95, Microsoft Office 97 (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) WordPerfect 8 or 6.1, Internet, HTML, FrontPage and numerous others at any required user level. The BIGS Center can also provide computer software consulting support for businesses and state agencies.
Call the BIGS Center at 796-4041 to discuss how they can meet your company or organization’s workforce development training services. For a brochure call 796-4413 or visit the BIGS Center online at http://www.jt.cc.va.us/.
Check out the following web sites as sources of information for your small business.
http://www.peoplesinc.com
Several small-business sites use this site to share advice from their in-house experts. Mostly tax related issues. Search through site to see other information.
http://www.greatcpa.com
This site includes a host of useful information, such as how small businesses can use the Internet, what they should know about tax laws, an explanation of the different types of business entities, and what they should know about operating a business in Chesterfield, Henrico or the city of Richmond.
Capital One Financial Corp., which is expanding its operations into Chesterfield County announced it is awarding $230,000 in grants to benefit John Tyler Community College, the Chesterfield school division and the Chester Family YMCA.
John Tyler and the Chesterfield school division will receive $130,000 over two years to develop a training program for community college and high school students. The program will provide instruction from keyboarding to the basics of work in the financial industry.
“This partnership will provide important skills for young people entering today’s work force, “Richard D. Fairbank, Capital One’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
In addition, the Chester YMCA will get $100,000 to finance the Capital One Child Care and Youth Training Center.
Capital One, announced in March plans to open a customer service center in the River’s Bend Business Center in southeastern Chesterfield. The new center is expected to open in August and employ 600 people. Applications for these positions have been impressive and they received over 2000 immediately after their announcement in March. Training for the new positions will begin in June and will be a joint effort of Capital One, the State’s Department of Business Assistance Workforce Services division, and John Tyler Community College
Commonwealth Biotechnologies Inc. broke ground in May for their new $4 million headquarters and laboratory complex in Chesterfield County. The company has about 40 employees and expects to add 15 to 20 in the next 12 to 18 months. The 32,000 square foot complex in the Gateway Centre is expected to be completed by November.
In related news, the company also added a heavy hitter to its board of directors: former Governor George Allen. The Greater Richmond Technology Council named CBI the area’s top emerging technology company at its awards dinner in May. (refer to articles)
The Commonwealth Biotechnologies announcement coupled with LandAmerica’s relocation and expansion in the Gateway Centre One office building and ITT technology’s construction of a new electronic and information systems training facility next to CBI, has rejuvenated this ideally located office park at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and the Powhite Parkway.
Legg, US, Inc. recently moved into their new, 35,000 sq. ft. plant which is located in the Chesterfield Airpark. The U.K.-based firm manufactures machinery and equipment used in the tobacco-processing industry and is new to Chesterfield County.
Schmitt E.G., Inc., a Connecticut-based company, to provide manufacturing and packaging support for its paper operation. Schmitt is occupying 79,000 square feet of Hewlett-Packard’s second building in River’s Bend and expects to hire up to 125 employees at this facility.
Belk Stores of Virginia Inc. moves regional headquarters from 23000 square feet of leased space in the Boulders to 28,000 Square feet of leased space in the Crestar Building on Midlothian Turnpike. This move did not generate any new positions.
The Belk department store chain moved its Virginia division headquarters to Chesterfield County in September 1997. The division oversees 31 stores in four states including 25 in Virginia. The move was made to be more geographic centered to their operations. The Richmond office employs about 85 people.
Microhandling, Inc., a German based company, has moved its operation from Henrico to the 288 Business Center in the Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park. The company manufactures integrated circuit test handlers and test head positioners for the semiconductor industry. Microhandling will supply equipment to White Oak Semiconductor in Henrico County and many other semiconductor manufacturers in the United States. The company selected Virginia because of its strategic east coast location, low transportation costs and highly educated workforce.
The Hon Company has completed a 50,000 square foot expansion to their facility on Old Stage Road. A second 50,000 square foot warehouse expansion is underway. The company manufactures office furniture and employs approximately 388 people.
Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. (CBI) has purchased approximately 4.8 acres in the Gateway Centre in Chesterfield. The company will construct a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. CBI currently employs 35 people at their location in the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in Richmond. The expansion will create 30 new jobs over the next year-and-a-half.
“Once again, Virginia’s pro-business tax and reasonable regulatory policies have attracted further investment by a high-technology company, further securing our reputation as a high technology growth area,” said Governor Allen. “CBI’s decision to locate in Chesterfield increases Virginia’s presence in the biotechnology arena.”
CBI provides comprehensive analytical and synthetic chemistries to assist the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries in their research efforts: including, but not limited to, high quality synthetic peptides and DNA/RNA/PNA, protein and DNA sequencing, amino acid analysis, mass spectrometry, calorimetry, and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The company has been in the biotechnology industry for the past five years.
“This new facility will allow CBI to more effectively serve its existing client base and expand its capabilities to support the industry’s growth areas,” said Dr. Richard J. Freer, Chairman of CBI.
“We are delighted that Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc., is joining the growing list of corporations choosing Chesterfield County as their home. Chesterfield County wants to be the FIRST CHOICE business community, and CBI’s cutting-edge work in the field of biotechnology is a welcome addition to our county’s economic strength now and into the next century,” said Cheseterfield County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Warren.
RXI Plastics has leased and began production in the former Western Reserve building in the Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park. The company has signed a 5-year lease for the 68,000 square foot facility. RXI manufactures plastic container products for a variety of industries. The company has other manufacturing facilities in Texas, Missouri, and California. The company relocated one employee and has added 8 additional employees.
KromaCorp has expanded its production facility in the Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park. The Canadian operation constructed an additional 8,500 square feet to their facility. KromaCorp currently employs approximately 13 people.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. has located its Semiconductor Equipment Division in the River’s Bend Center. Canon is leasing 4,800 square feet in the Center. The company is a support operation for White Oak Semiconductor in Henrico. Canon currently has eight employees.
Marva Maid Dairy has purchased 7.5 acres in the Appomattox Industrial Center. The company is constructing a 15,000 square foot distribution facility. Marva Maid will have approximately 60 employees.
LandAmerica Financial Group Inc., formerly Lawyers Title Corp., will move its corporate offices from Brookfield in western Henrico to the Gateway Centre One building in Chesterfield County this summer. Based on 1996 title revenues, LandAmerica will represent the largest family of title insurance companies in the United States.
The move also represents a headquarters consolidation and expansion that is expected to generate more than 100 new local jobs.
LandAmerica is the parent company for Lawyers Title Insurance Corp., which will continue operating in its local offices around town.
According to H. Randolph Farmer, senior vice president for LandAmerica Financial Group, the 260 employees in Brookfield will move in midsummer to Gateway Centre One, along with 30 to 40 people coming here from Philadelphia. The company expects to add more than 100 local jobs, depending on the number of people who move from Philadelphia. The changes will bring the number of employees at Gateway Centre One to 417.
The company’s corporate headquarters will occupy Gateway Centre One, a six-story, 126,896-square-foot building with a reflective glass and white granite exterior. Built in the late 1980s at the intersection of the Powhite Parkway extension and Midlothian Turnpike, it formerly housed operations of Signet Bank.
Factors in selecting Gateway Centre One, Farmer said, were the terms of the lease, flexibility of the floor plan, impact on employees and such amenities as parking and hotel access.
The 80-acre Gateway office park, owned by First Union National Bank, has about 40 acres left to be developed.
BluePrint Automation, Inc., a manufacturer of case packaging equipment, officially opened a new 40,000 square foot U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility located at Appomattox Industrial Center in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The new facility, located on a 21 acre river front site, will permit the company to increase its manufacturing capabilities as well as add new product lines and further enhance engineering and design capabilities.
Martin Prakken, President of Blueprint Automation, Inc., credits the Richmond area’s superior business climate and central location as primary reasons for the company remaining in the area. “The new facility in Chesterfield not only reinforces our plans to remain the world leader in our industry, but also signifies BluePrint Automation’s strong commitment to all our existing customers in the U.S.”, said Martin Prakken, President, BluePrint Automation Inc.
Blueprint Automation is the world’s leading manufacturer of case packing equipment for flexible bags and has 60 employees at their new location. Their machines are operating in Europe, Far East, Australia, South America, Canada and the U.S.A.
Chesterfield Public Education Foundation, Inc. is an independent foundation made up of local businesses who see the important link between good education, economic development and a well prepared work force. This Foundation provides support for the Chesterfield County school system, including funds, intellectual capital, and project support.
An anonymous gift from a Chesterfield family provided the money to establish the Foundation. The family pledged $100,000 to fund the first four years of awards, and will match up to $200,000 to continue the awards.
Among the projects funded by the first MCD Awards are:
· “Algebra Tutorial” will equip a Meadowbrook High School computer lab with algebra tutorial materials which will provide supplemental help for 150 students in Integrated Math I and 2. The goal is to raise understanding of algebraic concepts by one letter grade.
· “Improving Mathematics Skills for Middle Schoolers” Teachers and students from the Math and Science High School will offer a two-week division-wide summer program for selected sixth and seventh grade students. The goal is to increase the number of students qualifying for honors algebra in 8th grade, thus allowing them access to high level math and science courses in high school.
· “Support for Success” will offer after-school tutoring for 30 rising sixth grade students at Manchester Middle School. This project will attempt to identify students at risk of failing the state Literacy Passport Test and aim for an 80% passage rate among students being tutored.
The Chesterfield Public Education Foundation is soliciting $200,000 in matching funds from businesses and individuals to fully endow the awards for the future.
Sound interesting? Want to get involved? For more information, please contact….. Lynn Wilson, Business Partnership Specialist, Chesterfield County Public Schools at 751-4736.