RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Oran Safety Glass (OSG), Israel’s leading flat and curved glass processing company, will invest $2.65 million to expand manufacturing capacity in Greensville County, creating 25 jobs. The facility supplies bullet-proof glass for U.S. military vehicles. Virginia successfully competed with Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina for the project.
“Less than two years ago I announced Oran Safety Glass’ plans to locate its first U.S. facility in Greensville County,” said Governor Kaine. “In this short amount of time the company has exceeded its initial job creation plan and plans to nearly double manufacturing capacity with this expansion. I congratulate OSG on continued success in Virginia.”
OSG creates numerous types of glass products for various sectors, implementing some of the most advanced technologies available today. Since 1979, OSG has been providing international clients with a wide range of products for numerous industries and applications.
“The Virginia location has worked out very well for OSG, as we are centrally located and relatively close to our marketing office and our customers,” said Daniel Cohen, CEO, Oran Safety Glass. “The Virginia Economic Development Partnership staff, along with the Emporia and Greensville County economic development team, have continued to be invaluable in securing attractive conditions for our continued expansion. We look forward to continued growth in the community and to continue supplying products to protect the U.S. troops.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Greensville County, the Emporia-Greensville Industrial Development Corporation and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Greensville County with the project. Greensville County was awarded a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support the infrastructure needs of the expansion. The project will also be eligible to receive benefits from DHCD’s Virginia Enterprise Zone program, because it is locating in a designated enterprise zone. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $100,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
“Greensville County is pleased that OSG has decided to expand in our community,” said Peggy R. Wiley, Greensville County Board of Supervisors chairwoman. “OSG is a valued corporate citizen and we appreciate the jobs they will add to this area of Southern Virginia that has a high unemployment rate. We look forward to being part of OSG’s continued growth in the United States. Without the assistance of Governor Kaine and the Virginia Tobacco Commission, this expansion of OSG in Greensville County would not have been possible.”
“We are pleased that the Tobacco Commission was able to assist in this expansion,” said Senator Frank Ruff, Member, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “Indeed the success of this operation is a compliment to the workforce in the Greensville-Emporia area.”