RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that RTI International Metals, Inc. (NYSE:RTI) a leading U.S. producer of titanium mill products and fabricated metal components for the global market, will invest $100 million to open a manufacturing facility in the Patriot Centre, an industrial park jointly developed by the city of Martinsville and Henry County. The company will manufacture titanium for the aerospace industry, creating 150 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Argonaut BioFuels, a wood pellet manufacturer, will invest $16 million to begin operations in Louisa County. The company, which purchased an existing wood chip mill, will expand the plant to manufacture wood pellets for fuel, animal bedding and paper mills. The project will create 65 new jobs.

Richmond - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today accepted recommendations from the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), a coalition of companies across the Commonwealth dedicated to the advancement of international trade and investment. As a result, VITAL will proceed with several initiatives toward the development of a coordinated international marketing strategy for Virginia.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Filtration Specialties Inc., a designer and manufacturer of high-performance filtration media for high temperature applications, will invest $1.5 million to open a facility in Mecklenburg County. The company will manufacture fiberglass felt for the filtration industry, creating 10 jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Massachusetts for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Synergy Biofuels LLC, a start-up biodiesel fuel production company, will invest $1 million to open a facility in Lee County. Synergy Biofuels, which will process used vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel, will create 30 jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Tennessee for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Lignetics, a manufacturer of high-quality wood fuel pellets, Pres-to-Logs brand firelogs and firestarter products, will invest $5.35 million to open its first Virginia wood pellet manufacturing plant in Lunenburg County. The company will create 35 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Kentucky for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Showbest Fixture Corporation, which manufactures and installs fixtures for retail stores nationwide, will invest more than $2.5 million to locate a facility in Nottoway County. The Richmond-based company will create 104 jobs that range from supervisory positions to machine operators. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, will build a state-of-the-art aeroengine facility in Prince George County. Initially, the company will invest $100 million to establish an assembly and test facility for its civil aerospace operations. Over time, the company has options to invest up to $500 million to support future advanced manufacturing as opportunities arise for its defense and civil aerospace businesses.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Covance Inc., one of the world’s largest drug development services companies, will move its operations from Fairfax County to Prince William County, where it will locate its new pharmaceutical research and development laboratory. The company, which will transform the former Eli Lilly site from 300,000 square feet to 410,000 square feet, will invest approximately $175 million, retain 450 existing jobs and create 100 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Arizona and Maryland for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that GridPoint, Inc., a clean technology company, will invest $5 million as it relocates its operations from Washington, D.C. to Arlington County and continues to expand its business. The project expects to create approximately 250 new jobs over the next three years. Virginia successfully competed with Texas for the project.