RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Rage Corporation, a plastics manufacturer, will locate a new facility in Campbell County’s Town of Altavista. Through a $2-million investment, the company will create 25 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Ohio for the project.

“I am very pleased that Rage Corporation has decided to locate a new manufacturing facility in Altavista,” said Governor Warner. “With a strong cluster of successful plastics companies, Virginia is the optimal location for this investment.”

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) has appointed Guillermo Parodi, a business executive with extensive experience in international management consulting and sales, as its trade representative in Europe. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Parodi joins VEDP’s other global trade representatives – located in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil – in developing new markets for the Commonwealth’s exports. Virginia’s office has been located in Europe since 1968 – longer than any other U.S. state economic development or trade office.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that CMA-CGM, the world’s fifth largest steamship line, will locate its North American headquarters in the City of Norfolk. Through an $11.5-million investment, CMA-CGM will create 116 new jobs for Norfolk. The company also plans to consolidate its Virginia Beach facility into the new Norfolk operation – retaining 260 existing CMA-CGM jobs for the Commonwealth. Virginia successfully competed with a number of other locations for the project.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership today announced that seven Virginia companies successfully completed the state’s two-year VALET (Virginia Leaders in Export Trade) program, collectively attaining $19 million in export sales. Launched in January 2002, the program assists exporters in the Commonwealth that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as an expansion strategy. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Michael J.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Celanese Acetate LLC will expand its research and development capacity in Giles County. The expansion will create 55 new jobs at its existing Narrows facility, which currently employs more than 1,000 people. The new jobs include skilled positions such as chemists, engineers and technicians with higher-than-average salaries for the county. 

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that HP Hood Inc. will expand its milk processing facility in Frederick County. Through a $42.8 million investment, the company will increase its capacity for existing products and enable the production of new, technologically-advanced products. The expansion will create 65 new jobs in a variety of skilled labor positions. Virginia successfully competed with locations further north and west for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that M&H Plastics, a British company, will locate its first U.S. facility in Frederick County. The manufacturer of plastic bottles, caps and tubes for the personal care market will create 57 new jobs through a $12 million capital investment. Virginia successfully competed with Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland and Canada for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Franklin Braid will expand its operations in the City of Emporia. Through a $1.5-million investment, the project will create 25 new jobs at the company’s existing facility on Davis Street. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania for the project.

“I am pleased to announce that Franklin Braid is reinvesting in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Warner. “This great company will create additional job opportunities for the people of Emporia and surrounding communities.”

HENRY COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced an agreement in principle for MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc., the second-largest cabinet manufacturer in North America, to locate a manufacturing facility in Henry County. Through the company’s anticipated multi-million dollar investment in real estate and equipment, the new facility is expected to create more than 700 new jobs over the next seven years. The project is subject to final approval by the company’s Board of Directors.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Global Contact Services, LLC (GCS) will locate a customer contact center in Pulaski. Through a $1.35 million investment, GSC will create more than 300 new jobs in the former Advanced Health Services Building at 58 North Washington Avenue. Virginia successfully competed with West Virginia for the project, which is one of the New River Valley’s largest economic development announcements in more than three years.