Governor McDonnell Announces Praxair to Establish Gases Manufacturing Operation in Hopewell

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Praxair, one of the largest industrial gases companies in the world, will invest more than $15 million to locate a gases operation on the property of Osage Bio Energy’s facility in the City of Hopewell. Praxair will capture and purify carbon dioxide from Osage’s Appomattox Bio Energy facility and market it in applications such as: the food industry to freeze food; the beverage industry to make carbonation; and the energy market to extract natural gas from the ground. The project will create 17 jobs with an average annual salary of $50,000. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia for the project.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell commented, “Praxair has a history in the Commonwealth and with this project will re-invest in Virginia’s new green economy. It is gratifying to see a Virginia supply chain develop to generate gases for several vital applications. Each new green job created will pay above-average salaries, and there is tremendous room for potential growth as a supplier to other major companies in the region.”

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) is a global Fortune 300 company that supplies gases, high-performance coatings, and related services and technologies to a wide range of customers. With 2009 sales of $9 billion, the company has 27,000 employees and operations in more than 30 countries. The company currently employs more than 50 Virginians in different parts of the business.

“Virginia’s solid infrastructure combined with its central location on the East Coast near many area companies make it an attractive place to do business,” said Greg Sweeney, director, Economic and Business Development for Praxair. “The state is very business friendly toward companies who want to invest and grow here.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Hopewell and Virginia’s Gateway Region to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

“The City of Hopewell is pleased to welcome Praxair back to our community, and we look forward to assisting with the company’s growth,” said Mayor Brenda S. Pelham. “Praxair’s decision to locate in Hopewell supports the growth of one of our new industrial partners. This investment will expand the City’s tax base and provide employment opportunities for our citizens, and is a key element of our economic development efforts.