RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC, a natural cosmetics company with two beauty and skincare lines located in Tazewell County, will invest more than $2 million to establish a new manufacturing operation in the Oak Park Center for Business and Industry in Washington County. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee for the project, which will create 37 new jobs.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “This is a great success story about a homegrown Virginia business that has experienced amazing growth and will expand with a new manufacturing operation. Helping businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector grow and create jobs is a key component of my administration’s efforts to diversify Virginia’s economy. We are thrilled that Chris Renee Cosmetics will stay and grow in the Commonwealth and help build a new Virginia economy.”
“The expansion of an existing Virginia business is a great testament to the Commonwealth’s tremendous assets,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Chris Renee Cosmetics has benefitted from our world-class infrastructure, exceptional talent and business-friendly climate, and has chosen to expand in Washington County. We welcome this new manufacturing operation and congratulate the company on its continued growth.”
Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC is a natural cosmetics company that operates two lines under the trade names of Chris Renee Cosmetics and 40 West Naturals. Chris Renee Cosmetics offers luxury bath and body skin care products. 40 West Naturals was developed to provide a natural bath and body line-up for the whole family, including natural soaps, body balms, body butters, lip balms, sea salt, and bug repellants.
“Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC is very appreciative of the opportunity to grow our business in Washington County,” said Garry Fuller, President and CEO of Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC. “While our initial site selection process considered other states, Virginia’s strategic location to major interstate networks and proximity to customer markets made it a winning choice.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Washington County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $115,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Washington County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $80,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, administered by VEDP.
“2015 has been a great year for Washington County industry announcements,” said Phillip McCall, Chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors. “We are very pleased to welcome Chris Renee Cosmetics to our community.”
“Chris Renee Cosmetics has a promising future, and we are excited they have chosen to locate in the Oak Park Center for Business and Industry,” said Henry Snodgrass, Chairman of the Washington County Industrial Development Authority.
“I want to congratulate Chris Renee Cosmetics, Washington County, and all those involved in making Project Natural a reality for our region,” said Senator Bill Carrico, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. “The Tobacco Commission's $80,000 investment in this project helps bring 37 new jobs and more than $2 million in capital investment to Southwest Virginia. This is yet another example of the private and public sectors working together to give Virginians more opportunities to thrive in all corners of the Commonwealth."
“It’s great to see another successful Southwest Virginia business investing in our region and expanding their operation,” said Delegate Israel O’Quinn. “Congratulations to Chris Renee Cosmetics and Washington County on this exciting news that will further enrich Southwest Virginia as a hub for manufacturing and provide additional jobs.”