RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of two Southwestern Virginia companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. 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.

The new companies accepted into the program include Kollmorgen Corporation of Montgomery County, and Premium Steel Building Systems, Inc. of the City of Roanoke.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of four Northern Virginia companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. 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.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of two Central Virginia companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. 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.

The new companies accepted into the program include Rainbow Station, Inc. of Henrico County, and WeightPack, Inc. of Powhatan County.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Atomized Products Group, Inc. (APG), a global provider in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of metal powders and TEXEX® brand battery expanders, will invest $4.3 million to establish an operation in the City of Chesapeake. The company will produce negative battery plate expanders for lead acid battery manufacturers, creating 26 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Ardagh Group, a global manufacturer of containers for the food and beverage industry, will invest $93.5 million to establish a metal packaging manufacturing operation in a 525,000-square-foot facility in Roanoke County. Earlier this year Ardagh signed a long-term supply agreement with a major customer, ConAgra, requiring the company to add capacity in the eastern United States.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Hampton Farms, the leading roaster of in-shell peanuts in the United States, will invest $5.5 million to establish a peanut butter production plant in Southampton County. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 60 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Falls Stamping & Welding Company, a metal stamping company serving the automotive, trucking, and non-automotive markets, will invest $5.7 million to establish an operation in the Town of Pulaski in Pulaski County. The company will supply metal sub-assemblies to the Volvo Trucks plant in Dublin, Virginia through a major contract. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee for the project, which will create 112 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Steel Fab, a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Ltd., the largest family-owned metals processor and distributor in North America, will invest $1.5 million to establish a pressure tank production operation in the Town of Lebanon in Russell County. The project will create 50 new jobs and save 240 jobs for Virginia.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that W&B Fabricators, Inc., a manufacturer of mining machinery and equipment, will invest $3.1 million to establish an operation in Bland County. Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee and West Virginia for the project, which will create 50 new jobs.

Foreign trade zones allow businesses to defer paying U.S. Customs duties on imported goods held within the zones until the goods enter the United States for domestic consumption. No duties are paid if goods are re-exported. Companies also receive the benefit of not having to pay duties on broken or scrapped product. Businesses are allowed to store goods within FTZs for an unlimited period of time.