RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Cardinal Glass Industries has selected Roanoke County for its first Virginia facility. The 220,000-square-foot plant will manufacture insulating glass. Through a $23.9 million investment, the project will create 200 new jobs during the first 30 months of operation. The building has been designed to accommodate a 102,000-square-foot expansion – and 100 additional employees – within five years. Cardinal Glass plans to locate the new facility in the Town of Vinton’s Vinton Business Center. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.
“I am pleased to make this announcement and welcome Cardinal Glass to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Governor Warner. “This significant investment is great news for Roanoke County’s economy. I applaud the partnership efforts of the state, region, county and town economic development professionals for making these 200 new jobs a reality.”
Headquartered in Minnesota, Cardinal Glass Industries is a privately owned company that has been servicing the residential window industry for over 40 years. The company is a primary producer of flat glass and the largest producer of low emissivity coatings in North America. Cardinal Glass currently operates 16 facilities across the United States and has two more plants presently under construction.
“Cardinal Glass is very excited about this opportunity in Virginia,” said Cardinal Glass President and CEO Roger O'Shaughnessy. “It will allow us to be closer to our customers. It has been through strong partnerships with our customers and close relationships with local communities that Cardinal has become the leader in the residential glass market. It is the sound work ethic of the region and the strong support of state, county and town officials that has brought us to the Roanoke Valley.”
Cardinal Glass is a major supplier to Integrity Windows, which announced a new plant location in the Roanoke Valley in February 2003. Integrity Windows is currently building its manufacturing facility in Roanoke County’s Valley Gateway Business Park.
Governor Warner approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton with site preparation. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton assisted Cardinal Glass with its decision. The company qualifies for road access funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
“The decision by Cardinal Glass to locate in the Vinton Business Center proves that positive things occur when communities and governments work together,” said Mike Altizer, Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Representative of the Vinton Magisterial District. “Along with the Town of Vinton, I am proud to welcome Cardinal Glass to Roanoke County.”
“We are pleased to welcome Cardinal Glass as the Town of Vinton’s newest corporate citizen, and as the first company in our new park,” said Vinton Mayor Donald Davis. “This is just the type of company we hoped to attract when we developed the Vinton Business Center.”