RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that MZM, Inc. has selected the City of Martinsville’s Clearview Shell Building for a database and information technology operation. Through a $4.4 million investment, the project will create 150 new jobs over three years, with an average annual salary more than double Martinsville’s prevailing wages. Virginia successfully competed with Washington, D.C. for the project. U.S. Congressman Virgil H. Goode, Jr. was instrumental in securing this project for Virginia.
“This announcement comes at a time when we are working hard to bring new and diverse employment opportunities to Southside Virginia,” said Governor Warner. “I am pleased that MZM – with existing offices in Charlottesville and Suffolk – has decided to expand in the Commonwealth and locate this high-tech facility in Martinsville. This shows the continued importance of our Governor’s Opportunity Fund in closing deals for great jobs.”
MZM, Inc. is a Washington, D.C.-based company that provides information technology services to the federal defense and intelligence community. Since its founding in 1993, MZM has been solving problems for a range of government and private sector entities. Today, its special capabilities in providing creative and innovative solutions in a rapidly changing environment have been recognized as “state of the art” by clients both domestically and abroad. MZM’s traditional strengths in the areas of high-tech intelligence collection and analysis are enhanced by expanding capabilities in the national security and policy planning fields and enabled by a highly motivated and experienced staff.
The company will purchase Martinsville’s Clearview Shell Building in order to complete a database and information technology contract for the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) in Charlottesville. This new facility will conduct research and build databases on foreign-made products and services that the federal government purchases. MZM plans to hire 25 new employees in year one, 50 new employees in year two, and 75 additional employees in year three. All of the positions will require a security clearance.
MZM, Inc. President and CEO Mitchell J. Wade said that MZM is making a long-term commitment to the region by purchasing the building and the surrounding 12.9 acres. “We are extremely excited about bringing high-quality, highly skilled, good paying jobs to this facility, which will help make Martinsville a 21st century high-tech leader for the region. Not only is MZM spending millions to upgrade the site, but it is helping to create a state-of-the-art center of excellence that will bring more high paying jobs to Martinsville. Furthermore, this activity will play a very significant, leading role in protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.”
Governor Warner approved a $250,000 loan from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist the City of Martinsville with the project. The city also obtained $250,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Martinsville Economic Development Department assisted MZM with its decision. The company is eligible for tax credits based on its location in an Enterprise Zone.
" I am pleased that MZM is locating in Martinsville. I believe that MZM will add a new dimension to the economy of Martinsville and Henry County. I want to thank the City of Martinsville, Mayor Gene Teague and Tom Harned, Economic Development Director for their
cooperation and assistance in presenting a good package for MZM" said Congressman Virgil H. Goode.
“The city’s multi-year investment in the Clearview Business Park, the shell building and our broadband MINET fiber optic network has paid off,” said Martinsville Mayor M. Gene Teague. “The city thanks everyone on the economic development team that put this deal together. The Governor’s Opportunity Funds, Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds, as well as a $127,000 grant from the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth have enabled the city to make this property available.”