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Biotech Company Breaks Ground

Gateway Centre.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.

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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.

Hewlett-Packard Expands at River’s Bend

HP Facility in Rivers Bend CenterSchmitt 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

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. Moves to 288 Business Center

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.

Hon Company Completes Expansion

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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 Moving Here

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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 Locates in Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park

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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 Expands Facility

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. Locating in River’s Bend

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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 Facility Under Construction

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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 Moving to Chesterfield

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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 Opens New Facility

BluePrint AutomationBluePrint 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.

Independent Foundation Helping Schools

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.

Walk-Thru Sprinkler Review Process

Did you know that……

You can get same day approval of your permit for minor
renovations of existing Fire Sprinkler Systems?

Take advantage of the Walk-Thru Sprinkler Review Process!

In response to the needs of our customers undertaking
renovations of existing fire sprinkler systems, the Chesterfield
Fire and Life Safety Division has developed a Walk-Thru Sprinkler
Review Process.

To participate in the Walk-Thru Sprinkler Review, your project
must meet the following criteria:

1) No work performed in the
hydraulically remote area.

2) No more than five new sprinklers
added to the existing system.

3) No more than 30 sprinklers
relocated on the existing system.

4) All plans must be
“Walked Thru” by a representative of the installing
contractor. The contractor’s representative must be able to
make changes to the plan as required for approval.

5) No more
than two projects may be submitted for review on one visit,
unless approved by the Plans Review Technician.

Walk-Thru Sprinkler Reviews are conducted on Wednesdays and
Fridays between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The permit
application must first be filed with the Department of Building
Inspections. Once the permit fee has been paid, and the
application processed, please ask the Permit Clerk to return your
plans. Then bring the plans and a copy of the permit application
to the Fire and Life Safety Division for review. Customers will
be served on a first come/first serve basis.

“Our Goal is to be the Safest and Most Secure Community of its Size in the U.S.A.”

For additional information contact

Chesterfield Fire and Life Safety Division

Plans Review Section

P.O. Box 40 Chesterfield, VA 23832

(804) 748-1404

E-mail: firemarshal@co.chesterfield.va.us

Governor Announces Capital One Expansion

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600 New Jobs added

Chesterfield County welcomed Gov. Jim Gilmore earlier this month for the announcement by Capital One that it will locate a new customer contact center in Chester.

The new facility will result in the creation of 600 new jobs in the county. Capital One will occupy 74,000 square feet in the River’s Bend development at 701 Liberty Way by August.

“I am pleased to welcome this latest investment by a respected and vibrant corporate citizen such as Capital One,” Gilmore said. “Capital One has used cutting edge technology to become a true Virginia success story, and I am excited by its continued growth and strong commitment to its home state.”

Capital One Financial was founded in Virginia in 1994 and is one of the nation’s leading consumer credit companies. With more than 12 million customers, Capital One has been able to utilize some of the most sophisticated information technology programs in the industry to identify new customers and help them meet their financial goals. The company also is expanding into other consumer lending products through Capital One Bank and Capital One F.S.B.

“Capital One has achieved such rapid growth since it became independent because of our excellent customer service and willingness to embrace technology to build our market share,” said Richard D. Fairbank, Capital One’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Nigel Morris, the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, added, “As we carefully evaluated our expansion plans, our experience with the highly-skilled and knowledgeable workforce in the metro Richmond area led us to conclude that we need look no further than our own home base as the ideal location for this new facility.”

More than 4,000 of Capital One’s 6,000 employees worldwide are located in the Richmond metro area.

The establishment of a toll-free hotline for local residents to use in order to learn more about the new employment opportunities at the Chesterfield risk operations facility also was announced. Prospective employees should call 1-800-77-HIRE-1 to learn more about how to become a Capital One associate.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Chesterfield County Department of Economic Development worked together to assist the company with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.

1997 Investment Announcements

Chesterfield County

Date Company Investment

($ millions)		 # New

Employees		 Square

Footage
1-97 Pre Con 3.000 70 Expansion 105,000
1-97 Resco Rents 0.800 6 New 6,500
1-97 Va. Dept. of Emergency Services 4.000 156 New 32,000
1-97 Coghill Typesetting Company 0.054 6 New 1,500
2-97 Floor Seal Technologies 0.055 2 New 3,150
2-97 Wako Chemicals USA 1.000 2 Expansion 2,500
3-97 ICAPS 0.040 4 New 800
4-97 ECPI 2.000 50 New 30,000
4-97 Hewlett Packard 45.000 280 New 304,400
4-97 Ind Com 0.118 0 Expansion 7,300
5-97 Fisher Service Company 0.400 6 New 12,000
5-97 Quality Packaging Systems 7.200 60 New 50,040
5-97 Bread Works 0.050 3 New 1,000
6-97 Blueprint Automation 3.000 79 New 40,000
7-97 Cole Vision Corporation 3.000 130 New 37,515
7-97 Martin Direct 0.550 107 New 10,000
7-97 Belk 0.500 85 New 23,000
8-97 Millwood School 2.500 5 Expansion 20,000
8-97 Coghill Composition 0.850 38 New 10,000
9-97 RXI Plastics 3.000 10 New 68,000
9-97 Tash International N/A 2 New N/A
10-97 Hon Company 1.600 175 Expansion 50,000
11-97 KromaCorp 0.500 0 Expansion 8,500
11-97 Marva Maid Dairy 2.500 60 New 15,000
11-97 Canon Semiconductor Equipment 0.250 10 New 4,800
12-97 Commonwealth Biotechnologies 4.000 65 New 30,000
TOTAL 85.967 1,411 873,005

Coghill Composition Establishes New Facility

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Coghill Composition Company, Inc., a high quality book typesetting and graphics company, has constructed a new, 10,000 square foot, state-of-the-art typesetting facility in the Chesterfield County Industrial Airpark. The company is new to Chesterfield County and designed the building to accommodate a larger workforce that will be needed to handle an expected increase in the number of titles typeset annually.

The company, which began operating in Richmond in 1960, was founded by John M. Coghill, Sr. and is now owned and operated by his four sons, John, James, William and Robert. Coghill Composition sets type for printing and publishing companies nationwide.

Using special software designed for rapid electronic pagination of books, and a cottage industry for keying manuscripts and proofreading, Coghill outputs thousands of finished pages daily. Major publishers routinely call on Coghill to produce “instant books” on hot topics. Some recent titles are Death of a Princess; Don’t Tell Dad, by Peter Fonda; and Me and My Shadows, written by Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland.

Numerous titles of the famous and infamous, current events, movie an TV personalities have been completed in recent years. Scholarly text books are regularly produced for prestigious universities all over the country.

Coghill was assisted in their location search by the Chesterfield Department of Economic Development.

Lumberg Plans Expansion

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German-based electronics manufacturer Lumberg Inc. has announced they will expand its sales and distribution center in Chesterfield County.

According to a statement released by Gov. Jim Gilmore, the $2.5 million expansion will create 100 jobs during the next two years.

“This decision by Lumberg Inc. proves that Virginia is a great place to grow a business,” Gilmore said. “Our dedicated work forse and pro-business climate have persuaded this respected European manufacturer to re-invest in” Virginia.

Lumberg Inc. is the U.S. sales and distribution center for the 60-year-old Karl Lumberg GmbH & Co. The company makes electrical and electronic component connectors for a variety of products such as mobile phones, medical laboratory equipment, welding robots and high-density television sets.

The new 35,000-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters and will include engineering and light manufacturing operations as well as a warehouse.

Chesterfield Economic Development Director Gary L. McLaren said the company, now in the Branchway Business Center, will open its new facility in the Summerville Industrial Park off Midlothian Turnpike.

“They see their business growing quite dramatically over the next few years,” he said. “It’s a good expansion for Chesterfield.”

I-95/Walthall Interchange Upgrade

walthalcontruction.jpg (15407 bytes)Site work has begun on the redesigned and upgraded interchange at I-95 and Woods Edge and Ruffin Mill Roads. Buildings have been razed and land cleared for the 80 acres required to build this interchange. Completion of the first phase, with an estimated cost of $20.7 million, is scheduled for late 1999. (Map)

When completed, this interchange will provide a greatly improved and efficient road infrastructure for the many industries and their employees utilizing it. In addition, it will enhance our efforts to recruit more companies to locate in this attractive Enterprise Zone area.

Quantum Silicones Locates in Chesterfield

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Quantum Silicones (QSi), a newly-formed limited liability company which will produce silicone specialty polymers, has located its production operation in a 14,000 square foot building at 7518 Whitepine Road in the Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park. The products they will produce include silicone foam resins, liquid silicone rubber, moldmaking products, potting and encapsulating material. The products will have applications in the aerospace, automotive, rail, electronics and furniture industries. The company was formed in November of 1997 by three former GE Silicones employees, Tom Loman, Steve Helms and Phil McDermott.

The unique specialty silicone polymers QSi will produce offer properties that include high and low temperature capabilities (- 85 to 500 degrees F) and excellent flame resistance. In addition, the polymers are environmentally safe. An area of concentration for their polymer is the production of silicon foam, which is being developed for use the aircraft and rail car seating. The cushions, in effect, would be flame resistant and would not emit toxic fumes when subject to high heat such as might be experienced in aircraft or automotive accidents. QSi has a joint venture with Magnifoam Technology Inc. of Barrie, Ontario who produces the silicone foam cushions and other silicone foam products.

Specialty silicones manufacturing, a one billion-dollar market in 1997, is anticipated to be one of the fastest-growing, high-performance market opportunities and is forcasted to grow at an annualized rate of 15 – 20% over the next five years. Key drivers of this market will be the continued expansion and development of fire-safe materials, electronics, computing, fast prototyping, fiber optics, aerospace, automotive electronics and industrial fabric coatings.

According to Tom Loman, President of QSi, “We are very excited to bring our new business to Chesterfield County. Our combined experiences in the silicone industry, along with our innovative approach to this technology will enable us to bring unique products and unparalleled service to our customers. We are looking forward to being a part of the growing high tech industry in Chesterfield and the Richmond area.”

Chesterfield County was chosen by QSi for its convenient location and pro-business climate. The majority of QSi’s customer base will be along the Interstate 95 corridor, and its location in the county will provide easy access to new markets via a well-planned network of highways and the nearby ports. In addition, both Chesterfield and the Commonwealth of Virginia were very supportive and enthusiastic about adding another high-tech firm to the growing community of technology companies that are successfully operating in this region.

Maruchan Celebrates Opening of New Line

Maruchan Virginia, Inc.Maruchan Virginia, Inc., the Japanese-owned ramen noodle manufacturer, today celebrated the grand opening of their most recent plant expansion in a ceremony held at their Chesterfield County facility at 8101 Whitepine Road in the County’s Airport Industrial Park.

The company has expanded their existing plant by 99,000 square feet and will construct an additional 105,000 square feet of warehouse space. Forty new employees have been hired as a result of the expansion. Former Governor George Allen, who had met with the parent company in Japan while serving as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was a special guest and made remarks at today’s ceremony.

The company manufactures 20 different flavors of Maruchan Ramen noodles and 22 flavors of Maruchan Instant Lunch. Though the company produces product for worldwide distribution, some of the product from this most recent expansion will be exported to Russia. Local customers include Ukrop’s Supermarkets, Hannaford Brothers, Rack & Sack, Food Lion, Walmart and Costco Warehouse.

According to N. Kaneshige, plant manager of the Chesterfield facility, “We started our noodle operation here in Chesterfield County in 1990. Since that time we have experienced growth in our sales that far exceeded our expectations. Fortunately, our production has been able to meet the increased sales demand, however, our achievement was only made possible with the assistance and cooperation we have received from both the state and local government offices.”

Maruchan Virginia, Inc. is a subsidiary of Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd and located in Chesterfield in 1989. They purchased 23.5 acres in the Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park, constructed a 160,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant with two production lines and hired 50 employees. By 1992, the company was utilizing four production lines, had hired an additional 100 employees and completed the construction of an additional 100,000 square feet of warehouse space. The cumulative total space constructed, including this announcement, is in excess of 460,000 square feet. The plant payroll has grown from the original 50 employees in 1989 to nearly 300 people today.

Triple-A All the Way

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group raised its rating on Chesterfield County to AAA from AA+. This is the highest rating granted by Standard & Poor’s.

In receiving this upgrade, Chesterfield County has become one of only 8 counties in the nation to earn a triple-A rating from all of the 3 major bond rating agencies: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s.

Chesterfield also now has the unique distinction of being the only county in the Commonwealth of Virginia with triple-A ratings from all three major rating agencies.

3rd Annual Virginia Works Conference

The 3rd Annual Virginia Works Conference, entitled Workforce Development – A Shared Responsibility, was held on October 30, 1997 at John Tyler Community College. The event attracted nearly 200 attendees who heard remarks from keynote speaker Dr. John Tobin, Director of Applied Technology Training of Siemens. Dr. Robert Templin, President of CIT, opened the conference with his entertaining and provocative comments on technology and future workforce issues.

A unique feature of the conference was the presentation of special projects that were developed through the afternoon break out sessions of last year’s conference. Volunteers from the 2nd annual conference coordinated workforce preparation projects in their communities and presented an overview of the results during the morning session of the conference. The Jobs of Tomorrow – Employers Speak Out forum was one of the four special projects and is described in an article elsewhere in this newsletter. The other projects were apprenticeship/shadowing, welfare reform and WorkKeys.

Robert Ranson, president-elect of the Greater Richmond Technology Council, also made a presentation during this session, and Mac MacIlroy of the Virginia Manufacturers Association provided the luncheon address. Following his remarks, attendees participated in break out sessions that were facilitated by the special project volunteers. Each of the special projects were described in detail so that the conference attendees could use the projects as models to recreate these programs within their own communities, schools and businesses.