RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Com.40 Ltd, a major manufacturer of mattresses and upholstered furniture, will invest $36.3 million to open a manufacturing facility in the City of Danville. The project will create 813 jobs. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas for the project.
“Danville continues its extraordinary economic rebound,” said Governor Kaine. “This project marks the single largest Polish investment in Virginia. When I announced the Swedwood/IKEA project in October 2006 we knew that it would be transformational for the region, and now Com.40 will make a major investment, increasing our furniture manufacturing base. State and local teamwork and support facilitated this related project, similar to the success Swedwood has experienced in Southern Virginia.”
Com.40 Ltd, established in 2000, is a private company headquartered in Nowe Skalmierzyce, Poland. Com.40 is a high performance manufacturer of mattresses and upholstered furniture in Poland and is a key supplier to Swedish home furnishings retailer IKEA. This Com.40 project in Danville will help supply mattresses and upholstery to IKEA stores in North America. The company currently has 1,750 employees in Poland.
“Danville, Virginia is the perfect choice for Com.40 to enter the North American market,” said Bogdan Kaczmarek, CEO and Owner, Com.40 Ltd. “The strategic location and solid transportation infrastructure puts us in close proximity to IKEA stores on the East Coast, as well as components suppliers. City of Danville and state officials offered an impressive pro-business approach and strong financial support. This, combined with the region’s available, educated labor force, made choosing Danville an easy decision.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Danville to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved $1.5 million from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Danville with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $900,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, because it is locating in a Virginia Enterprise Zone. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
“We are thrilled that the largest investment in Commonwealth history by a Polish company is happening in Danville,” said Jerry L. Gwaltney, City Manager. “Com.40 is a natural fit for Danville, joining the ranks of our other six international companies that have already invested in our city. Companies from around the world are taking notice of Danville and Southern Virginia and for good reason: we prove time and time again that we have the workforce and the means to get the job done. And with a partner like the Danville Regional Foundation – whose assistance was instrumental in making this project happen – we see many more opportunities in our future. Danville can!”
Charles Hawkins, Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Commission said, “The City of Danville is rapidly making the transition from being the tobacco capital of the South to becoming the South's leading hub for advanced manufacturing. Com.40's decision to locate here is evidence of an extraordinary partnership between our local labor force and Polish entrepreneurs. More now than ever, Danville's motto of being a World Class Community is true, especially on this day when we welcome Com.40 to the City.”