RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that IBM Corporation will invest $10 million to expand its operations in Fairfax County, creating 1,250 new job opportunities. Governor Warner announced IBM’s decision during the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Information Technology Symposium annual event held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced a $6.9 million expansion of Universal Food and Beverage Company, Inc. in Grayson County that will provide 151 new jobs to residents of Southwest Virginia. Universal Food and Beverage Company, Inc., a newly formed company, is acquiring Grayson Springs Water from Independence Water Group, LLC. The bottled water facility has not been in production since early 2003. Universal plans a significant expansion to the facility as well as to the products it will offer.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Crowley Foods, a leading East Coast dairy manufacturer, will expand its manufacturing, production and warehouse facility in the City of Bristol. By way of a $2.7 million investment, the company will create 32 new jobs for Southwest Virginia. In addition, 64 jobs will remain in the City of Bristol thanks to the company’s expansion efforts. Virginia successfully competed with New York for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Merillat Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Masco Corporation and manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets, will invest $13.4 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Culpeper County and add 140 new jobs to its payroll. Virginia successfully competed with Florida and Ohio for the project.

RICHMOND - Gov. Mark R. Warner today announced that Saxon Capital, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAXN), a mortgage lending and servicing company headquartered in the Richmond area, will build a 115,000-square-foot-building next to its existing facility in Henrico County. Through a $17 million investment, the company will create 234 new jobs over three years at its new facility in Innsbrook Corporate Center, which serves as the Saxon headquarters. Virginia successfully competed with California and Texas for this lucrative project.

RICHMOND - The opportunity to do business in India is less than six months away for interested Virginia businesses.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Division of International Trade is sponsoring a trade mission to India Feb. 25 to March 7, 2005, that will include pre-screened appointments with Indian companies, commercial briefings on the India market and assistance from VEDP International Trade Managers. The mission trip will visit Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, which are all attractive markets for Virginia exporters.

NORFOLK - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced a $51 million expansion of Trader Publishing Company’s division headquarters for electronic media in downtown Norfolk. In addition to 600 new jobs, the company’s decision secures 550 existing jobs in the Hampton Roads region.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that five Virginia communities will receive $15,000 grants each to prepare a technology-driven Virtual Building program.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Golden, Colorado-based Coors Brewing Company will construct its third U.S. brewery at its Elkton, Virginia site. The company will invest between $160 million and $190 million in the project and add four to 10 new positions to its current employee base of 467. Coors Brewing Company had several options on where to add brewing capacity and Virginia was successful in securing the business. 

HENRY COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that StarTek, Inc., will invest $5 million to open a technical support and customer care center in Henry County. The project will result in 500 new jobs over the next 30 months. This is StarTek’s second customer service center announced this year in Virginia. In March, StarTek announced it would open a facility and create 500 jobs in Lynchburg.