Governor Warner Announces Pacific Headwear to Invest $1.2 Million in South Boston

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that Pacific Headwear, Inc. will invest $1.2 million to open a facility in the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park in the Town of South Boston. The company will embroider custom-designed team and corporate headgear, creating 25 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.

“Virginia’s strategic East Coast location provides immediate access to markets that a custom producer like Pacific Headwear requires,” Governor Warner said. “The South Boston location and the region’s quality workforce helped seal this deal for Southside Virginia.”

Pacific Headwear was founded in 1997, and the company’s headquarters is located in Eugene, Oregon. The company provides quality design and embroidery headgear products, and currently supports a national network of over 3,800 sporting goods dealers.

“Virginia was the clear choice for us,” said Don DeZarn, President of Pacific Headwear, Inc. “We were drawn to Virginia because of its central location and easy access to a major international shipping port. Once we began investigating South Boston, the quality of the workforce coupled with the state’s pro-business programs and policies made us feel very welcome.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County and the Town of South Boston to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Program. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $70,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development because it is locating in an Enterprise Zone.

“We are very excited to welcome Pacific Headwear to town. This project allows us to get one step closer to our goal of a true diversified economy and will continue to improve our much needed employment opportunities for Halifax County,” said William Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors. 

Carroll Thackston, Mayor of the Town of South Boston, said, “The Town of South Boston is excited to have Pacific Headwear in Houghton Industrial Park and the opportunity to offer textile jobs to our citizens that have years of experience in this field. We are extremely proud to have Houghton Park as Pacific Headwear’s East Coast manufacturing and distribution operation. The company’s beautiful facility is a wonderful addition to our growing industrial park.”