RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that LaJobi Industries, Inc. will locate a manufacturing operation in Blackstone. Headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, LaJobi Industries manufactures a line of baby cribs in Italy and sells them to national chain stores including Babies-R-Us and Burlington Coat Factory. The company is investing $4 million in the Blackstone facility, where it will hire 110 people to manufacture the complementary case goods for its cribs. Virginia successfully competed with New Jersey and Canada for this project.

RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Bristol Brass will relocate its headquarters from Bristol, Tennessee to Bristol, Virginia. The company’s new facility will consist of a 12,000 square-foot existing building and a 60,000 square-foot new building on the site formerly known as the Coal Technology Corporation property. Bristol Brass will invest $4 million and employ 125 people at this facility.

RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will locate a food distribution center in the Zion Crossroads area of Louisa County, creating 600 new jobs for the region. The 880,000 square-foot facility, to be located on the northeast corner of US 15 and I-64, will begin construction in spring 2002, with planned service to stores expected in spring 2003. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for this investment of at least $40 million.

NORFOLK - Governor Jim Gilmore and Ford Motor Company today announced the expansion of its Norfolk assembly plant with the addition of a 350,000 square-foot body shop. This expansion will generate up to 200 new jobs over today’s employment level of 2,400. During the next three years, Ford will invest approximately $375 million to expand the Norfolk facility, which assembles the popular F-150 pickup trucks.

RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that VeriSign, Inc., a leading provider of Internet trust services, will establish a call center near Bluefield. The center will mean approximately 100 new jobs and a $2.5 million investment for the area. Verisign will subcontract the operation of the center to another company, The Software Factory, which will staff a help desk and operate the call center. 

Richmond - Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) has unveiled a new web site at its home address, www.YesVirginia.org. Virginia is introducing an innovative feature on the site which allows the user to “compare Virginia’s advantages” to the other 49 states. A U.S. map shows all states with a direct hyperlink to their respective economic development offices. Additional features include a Region of the Month, a weather report, and an up-to-the minute stock ticker.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that TeleCorp PCS, Inc. will locate an inbound call center in Lebanon, in Russell County. Through an investment of $4.6 million, TeleCorp will hire 300 new employees to handle billing, coverage, technical and general support questions for its customers. Virginia successfully competed with Iowa and Tennessee for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Northwood Manufacturing will locate its operations in an existing building in the Winchester Industrial Park. The company, a producer and manufacturer of travel and recreation vehicles, will invest $4.2 million to occupy a former travel trailer manufacturing facility. The company will employ 200 people at the production site. Virginia successfully competed with Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama for this investment. 

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that AFFINA has selected Bridgeway Commerce Park in Suffolk as the site for its new 40,000-square-foot customer contact center. Through an investment of $5 million, this center will support the expansion of 1-800-MEDICARE. The AFFINA contact center will employ up to 450 individuals. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for this investment. 

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Maple Leaf Bakery will expand its current distribution center in the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology. Maple Leaf will hire 45 new employees and invest an additional $11 million to create a new training center and classroom. In April 1997, the company announced the creation of 150-180 jobs and a $22 million investment. Virginia competed with Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina for the investment.