Governor Warner Announces Framatome ANP to Expand in Lynchburg as Part of "1,000 Job Day"

RICHMOND - On a day in which Governor Mark R. Warner announced three job expansions representing nearly $1.3 billion in investment and 1,022 new jobs from Northern Virginia to Southside, the Governor announced that AREVA’s subsidiary, Framatome ANP, Inc., will invest $5 million to expand its facility in the City of Lynchburg. The company, a provider of comprehensive nuclear services, will create 130 engineering positions in the rapidly growing field of nuclear energy.

The announcement comes on the same day that Governor Warner announced creation of 860 jobs through an expansion at Micron Technology, Inc., in Manassas, and the addition of 32 jobs at Adi Motorsports in Halifax County.

“Framatome ANP has found great success in Lynchburg and Campbell County, and this project promises 130 additional jobs with well-above-average salaries for the region,” said Governor Warner. “There is renewed interest in nuclear energy as our nation grapples with its current and future energy requirements, and I am confident Framatome ANP will continue to grow and prosper here in the Commonwealth.”

Framatome ANP is an AREVA Group company, a worldwide energy company based in France. In the United States, AREVA has 8,000 employees and 40 locations, and is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is the leading U.S. nuclear vendor, and a major player in the electricity transmission and distribution market. AREVA reported more than $2B in U.S. revenues in 2004

“AREVA has been preparing for revival of nuclear generation in North America for some time,” said Tom Christopher, President and CEO of Framatome ANP, Inc. “We have the focus and the technology and we are gathering the resources to play a leading role in nuclear power’s bright future. The support from the Governor and the Commonwealth will help us deliver a new generation of energy solutions for the U.S.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Industrial Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Warner approved a $125,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Lynchburg with the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project through its Workforce Services Jobs Investment Program.

“Lynchburg is extremely pleased to be a part of this expansion,” said Kimball Payne, Lynchburg City Manager. “We are very appreciative of Framatome ANP’s presence in the community.”