Archive for category: News Article

Chesterfield County is pleased to announce the opening of a new small business that caters to general contractors and other businesses. The business, James River Industrial Park, had a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at 2 p.m., which will be followed by a grand opening on Saturday, May 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The public is invited to attend the grand opening.

James River Industrial Park is centrally located in the Enon Area at 13515 Lawing Drive. Owners Russell E. and Deborah R. Hughes are excited about locating their general contracting business, James River Contractor, at their new facility while also providing space for other businesses to thrive.

“Small businesses are a critical element of our local economy, and this is a shining example of a local business expanding in Chesterfield County,” said Bermuda District Supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “We are pleased to support and recognize James River Industrial Park as they continue to grow.”

James River Industrial Park will offer small office space, shop space and/or flexible space to small businesses. There also is secure space for parking equipment related to those businesses.

For the May 30 grand opening, the owners will be providing tours of the facility to prospective clients and the public. There also will be plenty of food to help celebrate their grand opening. For prospective clients who are unable to attend the grand opening, tours of the facility may be scheduled. For more information, call 804-452-1139.

Contact Person:  Dave Goode
Contact Email: GoodeD@chesterfield.gov
Contact Phone: 804-748-1161

The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop, 12406 Southshore Pointe Drive, in the Shops at Southshore on Hull Street Road, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on May 15, 2015. Food, refreshments and festivities followed the ribbon cutting event.

The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop is an old-style butcher shop, reminiscent of an era before shoppers bought all of their groceries at mega-supermarkets. They will sell high-end cuts of meats and seafood, including live lobsters. The shop will also sell some prepared foods and steam items to order.

Chris Tavenner, the shop’s owner, plans to set himself apart by providing first-class, Ukrop’s-style customer service in a location where the nearest competition is Walmart and Food Lion. “Opening our first store, we wanted to find a niche,” Tavenner said. “We looked at Midlothian Turnpike and the West End, but those places already had specialty stores.”

“We are very pleased that The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop has chosen Chesterfield County for their first location,” said Art Warren, Clover Hill District Supervisor and vice chairman of Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “It’s rewarding to see our business community grow and their location decision is a testament to our strong business climate.”

“It’s rewarding to see entrepreneurship flourish here and we are excited to have this unique grocery experience here in the county,” said Steve Elswick, Matoaca District supervisor and chairman of Board of Supervisors.

Tavenner has plans to expand the brand across the region. “We have a five-year growth plan,” he said. “We can see five stores being built in the Richmond area in the next 10 years.”

Contact:
The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop – Chris Tavenner Chris@boneyardbutcher.com
CED – Karen Aylward, (804) 318-8550, AylwardK@Chesterfield.gov

Solar Array at Capital One in Meadowville Technology Park Provides Backdrop for Signing

Governor Terry McAuliffe today performed a ceremonial signing of several bills that will significantly expand the growth of clean energy jobs in Virginia. Governor McAuliffe was joined by a broad, bipartisan coalition of legislators, environmental leaders and industry representatives who were instrumental in securing passage of these pro-jobs, pro-clean energy initiatives during the 2015 General Assembly Session.

Speaking about today’s announcement on Earth Day in Chesterfield County, Governor McAuliffe said, “Building a new Virginia economy is my top priority as Governor, and the emerging clean energy jobs sector provides a tremendous opportunity for economic growth and diversification. The legislative initiatives signed today are key components of my Virginia Energy Plan and will significantly expand solar generation, energy efficiency programs and green jobs in the Commonwealth. I sincerely thank all of the bill patrons and stakeholders for their tireless efforts to find consensus on these bills. Through bipartisan leadership and a broad coalition of industry, utility and environmental stakeholders working together, we have taken important next steps for diversifying our economy and making Virginia a leader in clean energy jobs.”

“Energy is a strategic growth sector both in Virginia and the entire United States providing good jobs and good wages,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Because of the Commonwealth’s significant assets, we have tremendous opportunities in this important arena. This legislative package provides us with the tools we need to capitalize on these opportunities.”

The Clean Energy Jobs legislation signed by Governor McAuliffe includes:

• Virginia Solar Development Authority – (HB 2267-Hugo/Bulova; SB 1099-Stuart) – Creates the Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority to facilitate and support the development of the solar industry and solar-powered facilities in the Commonwealth
• Net Energy Metering – (HB 1950-McClellan/Sullivan; SB1395-Dance/Edwards) – Doubles allowable generation capacity of a solar net energy metering facility
• Utility-scale Solar – (HB 2237-Yancey) – Authorizes utility cost recovery for construction or purchase of a solar facility with capacity over 1MW and establishes that 500MW of solar generation are in the public interest
• Natural Gas Energy Efficiency programs – (SB 1331-Petersen) – Clarifies how costs are evaluated by the State Corporation Commission to increase approval of energy efficiency programs
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program – (HB 1446-D. Marshall; SB 801-Watkins) – Expands the PACE program, which creates loan programs for localities to finance energy efficiency projects on commercial buildings using private capital
• Green Jobs Tax Credit – (HB 1843-James; SB 1037/Hanger) – Extends $500 per job Green Jobs Tax Credit for three years to July 1, 2018

The ceremony was held at Capital One’s Meadowville Technology Park in Chester, where Dominion recently completed construction of a 500 KW solar array. More than 100 Capital One employees attended the event as a part of the company’s weeklong celebration of Earth Day.

Part II: The Private Sector

While the state, regional, and local governments worked together on the Tranlin project, they also had some help from the private sector. Timmons Group, an engineering firm, had expertise and a unique perspective that proved valuable for the deal.

Tranlin operated large-scale manufacturing facilities, an area Timmons Group knew well. Timmons Group was then able to communicate with Tranlin’s technical team in China to understand the facilities’ requirements and ensure that the James River Site could meet or exceed these needs. Additionally, Timmons Group prepared detailed schematic alternatives so that Tranlin representatives could picture their new Chesterfield facility.

Timmons Group also accompanied Chesterfield County to China. The trip was intended to provide them with a better understanding of Tranlin’s operations and how the facilities could best be implemented at the James River Site. Chesterfield chose to bring Timmons with them to have two additional perspectives: that of a technical advisor, and also that of a Chesterfield-based business. After the group returned to the U.S., they created a more refined project layout to present to Tranlin on their return trip.

“Timmons Group is proud to have partnered with Chesterfield County and the Commonwealth of Virginia on the recent trip to China,” Said Tim Davey, principal of Timmons Group. “We feel that another professional set of eyes and ears helped the County and Commonwealth gain a better understanding of the China operation. That first-hand experience also helped convince our team that the James River Industrial Park was the perfect location for the U.S. expansion.”

Timmons and Chesterfield visit Tranlin’s Chinese facilities

 Check out the Chesterfield Business blog next week for more stories about our projects!

Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd. will invest $2 billion and create 2,000 jobs in first U.S. advanced manufacturing operation

Project represents largest Chinese greenfield economic development project in U.S.

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese pulp and paper company formerly known as Shandong Tralin Paper Co., Ltd., will invest $2 billion over five years to establish its first U.S. advanced manufacturing operation in Chesterfield County. The new manufacturing facility in the paper and fertilizer sectors will be located on an 850-acre campus in the James River Industrial Center. Virginia successfully competed against several other states for the project, which will create 2,000 new jobs by 2020.

“An investment of this magnitude, with the creation of 2,000 new jobs by 2020, represents the largest Chinese capital investment project in the U.S.” – Governor McAuliffe

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “An investment of this magnitude, with the creation of 2,000 new jobs by 2020, represents the largest Chinese capital investment project in the U.S. This project is transformational for the economy of Chesterfield County and the surrounding region. Advanced manufacturing jobs are the heart of a strong and growing 21st century economy, and symbolize the economic recovery taking place across the nation. The opportunity to welcome a leading, global company’s first U.S. manufacturing operation and simultaneously strengthen Virginia’s relationship with China is invaluable. Economic development is a team effort, and it is the collaboration of the entire team that helped to convince Tranlin that Virginia is the best site for its U.S. operation. We are therefore partnering with the Major Employment and Investment Commission, and are confident this project will bring international attention to the thriving advanced manufacturing industry in the Commonwealth.

“The Tranlin operation in Chesterfield County represents a project of historic proportions for Virginia.” – Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade

“The Tranlin operation in Chesterfield County represents a project of historic proportions for Virginia,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This global pulp and paper company is a national leading R&D Center for straw-based pulp and paper in China, among many other awards for innovation and invention, and will enter the U.S. market with its new paper and fertilizer manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County. The new 850-acre campus offers the potential for Tranlin to eventually produce its full product lines and continue to grow its operation and customer base while using Virginia’s natural resources.”

“Tranlin represents a tremendous opportunity for Virginia’s corn and small grain producers by creating a lucrative new market for agricultural residuals that are typically left in the field.” – Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

“As we work to grow and diversify our economy, it is vital that we continue to build relationships with our largest agricultural and forestry trade partner, China, through both exports into Chinese markets and Chinese investments in business ventures here,” said Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. “Tranlin represents a tremendous opportunity for Virginia’s corn and small grain producers by creating a lucrative new market for agricultural residuals that are typically left in the field. 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 project is complete and operating at full capacity. I look forward to working with Tranlin as they begin to procure needed agricultural products from our growers, to help them succeed and continue to expand their investment in Virginia.”

Based on analysis performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension, the economic benefits of this operation will be felt throughout the agriculture sector, from new demand for agricultural equipment, to new jobs for direct and indirect agricultural jobs. In addition, this project will help preserve farmland by providing farmers a new opportunity to derive additional economic return from their land and equipment, creating positive economic pressure 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 producers, in addition to other fibrous products from the surrounding area. From an environmental standpoint, the harvest of these agricultural residuals is compatible with the Chesapeake Bay-friendly no-till crop production practices these producers are already using. In addition, Tranlin prides itself on a process that leads to an environmentally friendly effluent, resulting in the discharge of quality, clean water.

Founded in 1976 and based in Liaocheng, China, Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd. is centered on the pulp and paper industry, with an annual productivity of 400,000 tons of refined pulp, 700,000 tons of machine-made paper, 400,000 tons of organic fertilizers, and 2.4 billion food and medical packaging boxes. The company has established a diversified product structure centered on the natural products and a marketing network in accordance with demands of internationalization. The main products, with more than 100 varieties and five categories, include refined natural pulp, natural culture paper, natural household paper, food and medical packaging box and organic fertilizers. The products are sold in more than 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China, and some products have been exported to the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea.

“We are pleased that Virginia and Chesterfield County will be the site of our first U.S. advanced manufacturing operation.” – Mr. Hongfa Li, Chairman and President, Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd.

“We are pleased that Virginia and Chesterfield County will be the site of our first U.S. advanced manufacturing operation,” said Mr. Hongfa Li, Chairman and President, Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., Ltd. “Virginia has abundant resources of agricultural stalks, power and water supply, manpower, and a strong transportation system—all necessary tools that guarantee Tranlin’s future development. More importantly, the Virginia team’s flexibility, patience, teamwork, cooperation, and above all, passion for foreign investment, factored into our decision. After an in-depth feasibility study that occurred over the past year, we have all the reasons to say “Yes, Virginia.”

“We are very excited about joining the welcoming community of Virginia and Chesterfield County.” – Jerry Z Peng, Chairman and CEO of Tranlin, Inc.

“We are very excited about joining the welcoming community of Virginia and Chesterfield County,” said Jerry Z Peng, Chairman and CEO of Tranlin, Inc., Tranlin group’s recently established US entity. “We are even more excited about the opportunity to apply our innovative technologies in building an industry-leading production base in central Virginia. We are confident this will not only provide U.S. consumers with clean and eco-friendly paper products, but also serve U.S. agricultural interests and home owners with all-natural and highly effective organic fertilizers.” Mr. Peng also noted his ties to Virginia, having received his MBA from UVA’s Darden School and currently serving on its foundation board.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Greater Richmond Partnership, Dominion Virginia Power, the Timmons Group, and the Virginia Port Authority to secure the project for Virginia.

Governor McAuliffe approved a $5 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield County with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The company may be eligible to receive a Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project custom performance grant, subject to approval by the MEI Project Approval Commission. An MEI project is defined under current law as a regional economic development project in which a private entity is expected to make a capital investment exceeding $250 million in the Commonwealth and to create more than 400 new full-time jobs. As part of its review, the Commission may endorse certain incentive packages for approval by the General Assembly.

“What a great and historical day for Virginia, the region, and Chesterfield County.” – Jay Stegmaier, County Administrator for Chesterfield County.

“What a great and historical day for Virginia, the region, and Chesterfield County,” said Jay Stegmaier, County Administrator for Chesterfield County. “We have worked diligently within the county, and with our partners at the state, regional, and local levels, to build an environment that is attractive for this record breaking announcement of $2 billion with 2,000 new, quality jobs. It really shows the value of our combined efforts. And, this announcement comes from a leading company that manufactures great products while staying focused on the environment, recycling, and sustainability. The scope and reach of this project is enormous and has significant impacts on both the business and agriculture communities. We enthusiastically welcome Tranlin as the newest international member of our corporate family.”

“It is very fitting that our county was founded on an international investment and now, over 400 years later, we are still celebrating why we continue to be a great location for companies from around the world.” – Jim Holland, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

“This announcement is the largest in the history of Chesterfield County,” said Jim Holland, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “It is very fitting that our county was founded on an international investment and now, over 400 years later, we are still celebrating why we continue to be a great location for companies from around the world. Welcome Tranlin, to Chesterfield County. We look forward to your continued growth and success.”

“The Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission was established in 2009 to help Virginia better compete for major economic development projects that require General Assembly approval for incentive packages,” said Senator Walter Stosch and Delegate Chris Jones, members of the MEI Project Approval Commission. “The Tranlin project is significant for Virginia and is critically important to win. These jobs and related revenues are important to our ability to fund education, health care and other core priorities. The MEI Commission is fully supportive of this transformational project and we are pleased that the MEI Commission could play a role in ensuring that the Commonwealth of Virginia is home to Tranlin’s first U.S. operation.”

Location of the 850-acre Tranlin Campus