Governor approves $200,000 to County for site prep, State to provide workforce training to help fill
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced CPFilms' decision to expand its manufacturing facility in Henry County. The company, which currently employs 483 Virginians, plans to create 52 new jobs through a three-year $35 million expansion plan.
"Revitalizing Henry County is one of my administration's top priorities. I am proud to assist the County with this expansion and offer the workforce training that helps the people of this area obtain these quality jobs. CPFilms has enjoyed a long, rich history in the Commonwealth. Today's announcement is great news for the people of Henry County and all of Southside Virginia," said Governor Gilmore.
Governor Gilmore approved a $200,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with site preparation. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Patrick Henry Development Council and Henry County assisted the company with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services to the company.
CPFilms, a subsidiary of St Louis-based Solutia Inc. has a broad range of manufacturing and research capabilities centered in Henry County. The combination of laminating, silicone release, metallizing, sputtering and dyeing technologies are brought together to make CPFilms the world's leading window film company. These same core competencies have made CPFilms a first choice supplier of precision coated thin films to a variety of demanding industries serving many blue chip customers. The window film products are custom designed for solar control, energy management, ultra violet protection and a variety of other safety/security/anti-graffiti applications. Branded products such as Llumar® and Vista® serve the professionally installed markets in the USA and overseas while leading US retailers stock the Gila® brand for consumers wishing to self-install.
"We have a first rate, dedicated workforce in Virginia that has consistently risen to the many challenges that we have faced," explains Ken Vickers, the Virginia-based CEO of CPFilms Inc. "This investment is a natural consequence of our faith in the employees' ability to continue to deliver. We have enjoyed a very close relationship with the local community and appreciate this vote of confidence from the Governor."
"We applaud CPFilms' decision to expand in Henry County," said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal. "This project is a result of a true team effort between the county, region and state."