Wal-Mart to invest $50 million in new James City County distribution center
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will locate a new two million-square-foot distribution facility in James City County. The company will initially hire 230 employees with plans to create a total of 400 new jobs within 30 months. The Commonwealth successfully competed with Georgia for the $50 million investment.
"I am honored to announce Wal-Mart's decision to locate this East Coast distribution center in the Commonwealth of Virginia," Governor Gilmore said. "The world's number one retailer and the industry's most efficient and sophisticated distributor plans to greatly utilize the Port of Virginia at Hampton Roads. Virginia's exceptional worldwide access has again secured a distribution project for Virginia."
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. presently operates 61 stores, 10 SAM'S Clubs and one distribution center in Virginia, employing 25,044 associates. The company operates more than 2,500 Wal-Mart stores and 463 SAM'S Clubs in the United States. It employs more than 815,000 associates in the United States and 220,000 internationally. Last year, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. raised and donated more than $163 million in charitable and educational organizations across the nation through the Wal-Mart foundation.
"The decision to locate in the James City County area is one of commitment to economic growth in Virginia," said Mike Duke, Senior Vice President of Logistics for Wal-Mart. "We are committed to developing our role as a member of the local community and as a partner in economic development in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Governor Gilmore approved a grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund in the amount of $700,000 to assist James City County with site acquisition and preparation. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development and James City County assisted the company with its location decision. Wal-Mart qualifies for Enterprise Zone tax credits through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The company is also eligible to apply for industrial access road funding assistance through the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Virginia Port Authority will make a boundary line adjustment to include Wal-Mart's site in Foreign Trade Zone #20. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
"Virginia's outstanding port facilities and pro-business climate have once again sealed the deal for a FORTUNE 500 company in the Commonwealth," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal. "Citizens of the Peninsula will benefit from these 400 quality job opportunities."
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