London - During his European trade mission, Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that McKee Foods will expand its operations in Stuarts Draft. The company, producer of Little Debbie® snack cakes, will create more than 200 new jobs with this expansion, investing $44.8 million to add two new bake lines and increase the production capacity of the existing facility. Virginia successfully competed with Tennessee and Arkansas for the investment. 

Koblenz, Germany - Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that proVENTO International will locate its U.S. headquarters in the Cape Charles Sustainable Technology Park in Northampton County. Today, during Governor Gilmore's trade mission to Europe, he and top proVENTO executives met in Koblenz, Germany, to finalize this deal. proVENTO, based in Koblenz, will invest $7.5 million in a U.S. headquarters facility and six 1.3-megawatt windtowers. This project will create 25 new jobs in Cape Charles.

Wetzler, Germany - After meeting with corporate executives today, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore announced that Leica Microsystems will locate its world headquarters for its semiconductor division in Fairfax County. Leica, a German company, is represented in more than 100 countries with 12 factories in eight countries, 19 sales and service organizations, and an international network of dealers. With its workforce of 3,800 employees it creates sales of approximately $540 million. The international management is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.

Wetzler, Germany - During his European mission, Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Site Selection, a widely-read economic development trade magazine, ranked one of Virginia's economic development projects among the publication's highly acclaimed "Top 10 Deals of 2000." Capital One's $700 million expansion and creation of 8,000 new jobs made the top 10 list.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that DuPont will consolidate its area warehouse operations in Chesterfield County. DuPont has contracted with Devon USA, through C.B. Richard Ellis, to invest $30 million to build a new warehousing and logistics center. The new complex will be located on Bellwood Road adjacent to DuPont's James River plant site. Virginia successfully competed with several mid Atlantic States for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore and First Lady Roxane Gilmore, accompanied by key state economic development and tourism professionals, will lead a trade, tourism and investment mission to Europe from April 21 to May 4, 2001. The mission will promote Virginia as a thriving business center and exciting tourist destination. High-level meetings with key business executives in Germany and the United Kingdom will help facilitate positive decisions for Virginia with active business recruitment projects. 

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Universal Companies, Inc. will expand and combine its corporate office and distribution facility in the Westinghouse Industrial Park in Washington County. Universal Companies, the leading single source provider of products to the Day Spa industry, will invest $3 million in this expansion. The company will also hire 74 new employees while retaining the 30 existing employees. Virginia successfully competed with Tennessee for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Creative Technology Incorporated will expand in Fairfax County. The company provides business solutions to clients in the areas of e-business, information management and information security. Creative Technology will hire 108 new employees with experience in information technology, web design, and application and systems engineering. The company will invest $1 million in this expansion.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that ERNI Components, Inc. will expand its operation in the Rivers Bend Center in Chesterfield County. The expansion will create 550 new jobs and the company will invest $98.4 million to complete this project. Virginia successfully competed with Nevada for the investment.

"The Commonwealth's pro-business environment is vital to the satisfaction of our existing companies," said Governor Gilmore. "ERNI's decision to embark on such a major expansion is a testament to Virginia's success in this area."

Norfolk - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co., Inc. will relocate its United States headquarters from New York City to Norfolk. Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. will invest $6.2 million to locate in a new building in the Lake Wright Executive Center. The company will also hire 235 people to work in this facility. Virginia successfully competed with Texas for this investment.