RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Blue Ridge Wood Products, Inc. will open a manufacturing operation in Tazewell County. The project will create 160 new jobs within 30 months. Through a $3.6-million investment, Blue Ridge Wood Products will locate in the former Woodtech manufacturing facility located at 1806 Falls Mills Road in the Town of Bluefield. Virginia successfully competed with West Virginia for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Joy Mining Machinery will expand its manufacturing operations in Scott County, creating 45 new jobs. Through a $1.4-million investment, the company will build a 10,350-square-foot facility adjacent to its current manufacturing space in the Duffield Regional Industrial Park. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania and Illinois for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Telvista, Inc., a global company with U.S. headquarters in Dallas, Texas, specializing in technical support, sales and customer service contact centers, will locate its first Virginia operation in the City of Danville. The project will create 400 full-time jobs and 100 full-time equivalent jobs over the next 30 months. Through a $2.5-million investment, Telvista will locate in the Airside Industrial Park, 119 Cane Creek Blvd.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Aerojet, a GenCorp Inc. company, will locate a manufacturing facility in Orange County. Through a $6.9-million investment, the project will create 149 new jobs. Aerojet recently purchased the propulsion business assets of Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC), including a 3,200-acre testing and technology operation in Orange County that currently employs 25 people.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that StarTek, Inc., a Denver, Colorado-based business outsourcing company, has selected the City of Lynchburg for an in-bound call center. Through a $5.5 million investment, the company will create 542 full-time jobs over the next year. StarTek will locate the operation in the Plaza Shopping Center, which is an area the City of Lynchburg has targeted for economic revitalization. Virginia successfully competed with several other states for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced Cost Plus, Inc.’s decision to double the size of its distribution facility at the Shirley T. Holland Commerce Park in Isle of Wight County. Through an investment of more than $24 million, the company will add an additional 500,000 square feet and create 190 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with several other states for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that SEA Systems Group, Inc. (SEAS), a manufacturer of advanced impact, shock and vibration mitigating materials, will expand its operations in Mecklenburg County. Through a $175,000 investment, SEAS will create 25 new jobs at its Clarksville manufacturing and testing facility. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner and U.S. Senator John W. Warner today announced that Virginia-based Luna Innovations will invest $6.4 million to locate a nanomanufacturing facility in the City of Danville’s Tobacco Warehouse District. The project will create 54 new jobs. The nanomaterials manufactured in Danville will be used for research and development of new military and commercial applications. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Board of Directors selected its new Chair, J. Thomas Fowlkes of Bristol, and Vice Chair, Steve DelBianco of Fairfax. The officers were elected during the quarterly VEDP board meeting on March 3, 2004. The Partnership also welcomed Charles H. Majors of Danville and James E. Ukrop of Richmond to its Board of Directors.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that America Online, Inc. (AOL) will open two new offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virtus Marketing has been awarded the contract to manage these sales and customer service operations for AOL. Through a $500,000 investment in Southwest Virginia, the project will create 67 new jobs in the City of Norton. The office will be located on the third floor of the historic Hotel Norton. In Greater Richmond, the project will create 40 new jobs through a $250,000 investment.