RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Framatome ANP (Advanced Nuclear Power), Inc. will expand its operations in Lynchburg and Campbell County, creating a total of 300 new jobs through a $32 million investment over the next three years.
Framatome ANP will invest $12 million to expand its North American Headquarters on Old Forest Road in Lynchburg and another $20 million at its Mt. Athos Road equipment refurbishment facility in Campbell County. The company also has a facility on Mill Ridge Road in Lynchburg. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina and Washington state for the project.
“Framatome ANP is an outstanding company,” said Governor Warner. “This expansion creates hundreds of opportunities for central Virginians to gain high paying and high tech jobs. Framatome ANP represents innovation and achievement in the nuclear power industry, and it is exciting to watch this company grow in Lynchburg and Campbell County.”
Framatome ANP, Inc. is headquartered in Lynchburg. It is a U.S. company with a legacy in Virginia of more than four decades. The company, once part of Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), first became one of the Lynchburg area’s leading employers in 1956 when it opened a plant to manufacture nuclear fuel elements, cores and other reactor parts. It was the first privately financed nuclear facility built in the United States. The Paris, France-based Framatome ANP and B&W became partners in the commercial nuclear fuel business in 1987, followed in 1989 by another partnership providing technical services to the nuclear power industry. Framatome ANP acquired total interest in these joint ventures in 1993. Framatome ANP, Inc. has approximately 3,400 employees working across North America, with 1,500 of these employees based in Virginia.
“Our company’s roots are here in Virginia, and our employees enjoy an exceptional quality of life in the Lynchburg area,” said Tom Christopher, President and CEO of Framatome ANP, Inc. “Our growth is due in large part to the solid work ethic of the people here, and we greatly appreciate the commitment of the Governor and the local and state organizations who are working so hard to create new, high-quality employment opportunities in this region. The expansion in Virginia is an important part in our overall strategic growth at sites throughout the United States.”
Governor Warner approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Lynchburg and Campbell County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission will support the project with $150,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. Framatome ANP, Inc. qualifies for a $500,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program. The VIP program offers financial assistance to existing Virginia companies proposing significant expansion projects. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia’s Region 2000, Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg assisted Framatome with its decision to expand. The company qualifies for road access funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation. Workforce training services will be provided by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance.