ASB Greenworld Facility a Direct Result of Trade Mission
King and Queen County - Governor George Allen today announced that ASB Greenworld will locate a $3.6 million facility in King and Queen County, creating 24 new jobs. ASB Greenworld selected Virginia for its new facility after Governor Allen met with Helmut Aurenz, President and CEO of ASB Greenworld, during his recent European trade mission. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the investment.
The company, a German subsidiary of ASB Greenworld Helmut Aurenz GMBH & Co., the world's largest network of companies producing potting soil, liquid fertilizers and special packaging, will construct a new building on 50 acres just outside the Town of West Point.
"I felt very good about our meeting and learning more about this growing, creative company led by a wonderful, innovative man -- Helmut Aurenz. Today, that relationship has blossomed beautifully with his selection of West Point, Virginia -- a good choice over North Carolina," said Governor Allen. "Companies around the world are attracted to Virginia's pro-growth business environment, our competitively low tax and reasonable regulatory policies, our right to work laws, our strategic location and our most valuable asset -- our people,"
"While leading Virginia's trade delegations abroad, I am always looking for companies like ASB Greenworld who can plant the seeds of prosperity and sink their roots into our Commonwealth's nurturing soil. In this, we certainly appreciate ASB Greenworld's vote of confidence in our Virginia Renaissance, and we welcome them to Virginia's River Country -- a great place for businesses to do business. ASB Greenworld will actually be improving our economic and soil quality," stated Governor Allen.
Headquartered in Ludwigsburg, Germany, ASB Greenworld supplies potting soil and other gardening products to clients such as K-Mart, WalMart and Target. Virginia has an abundant supply of high quality pine bark, a key raw material used in ASB's potting soils and related products. ASB plans to begin operations in the new facility this November.
"The support given to ASB by the Commonwealth and especially Governor Allen will greatly aid our company in reaching our northern U.S. markets while maintaining a large supply of southern pine bark," said Helmut Aurenz, president and chief executive officer of ASB. "We anticipate great success in King & Queen County, Virginia."
Through 1996, cumulative German investment in Virginia has totaled $2 billion, representing 121 enterprises and 10,025 jobs. Germany claims 22% of Virginia's $8.7 billion total foreign investments.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, King and Queen County and Virginia's River Country assisted the company with its decision.
# # #