RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that TDS US, a logistics services provider for the automotive industry, has chosen the City of Chesapeake for its newest facility. The company will create 210 new jobs through a $2.4 million investment. Virginia successfully competed with Michigan and North Carolina for the project.

“TDS US has made an excellent decision by investing in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Warner. “This announcement is great news for the people of Chesapeake and the region’s highly respected automotive sector.”

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that SafeCard ID Inc., a manufacturer of secure photo ID cards, will invest $10 million in the City of Virginia Beach and formally establish its headquarters there. The investment allows the company to create 55 new jobs at its International Parkway facility. Virginia successfully competed with Colorado, Maryland, New York, the United Kingdom and Israel for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s largest independent hotel management company, and its sister company, MeriStar Hospitality Corporation, the nation's third largest hotel real estate investment trust, will relocate their headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Arlington County. The companies have committed to an investment of $13.7 million in capital improvements and will bring 270 new jobs to the state. Virginia successfully competed with Washington, D.C. for the investment.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership today announced that a team of graduate business students from Shenandoah University have received the Governor’s Award for Excellence for their participation in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Global Market Research (GMR) program. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Michael J. Schewel presented the award to the winning students and their professor at the 54th Virginia Conference on World Trade, October 24, 2002 in Williamsburg.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages, has chosen Wythe County as the location for a new 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art bottling facility. The new project ultimately will create about 200 jobs through a $65 million investment. Virginia successfully competed with West Virginia for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Norcraft Companies, LLC, a cabinet manufacturer, has chosen the City of Lynchburg as the location for its newest manufacturing facility. The company recently acquired StarMark, Inc. and will invest in excess of $1 million to convert the Lynchburg building to manufacture the company’s Mid Continent Cabinetry® product line. Norcraft will create 250 new jobs over the next 12 months as it expands production output at the Lynchburg plant.

WYTHE COUNTY - Governor Mark R.Warner today announced that Virginia-based Klöckner Pentaplast of America, Inc., will expand its operations, creating 108 new jobs through a $34 million investment in Wythe County. The investment will allow Klöckner Pentaplast to build a 70,000-square-foot addition to its facility in the Rural Retreat Industrial Park. Virginia successfully competed with West Virginia for the project. Governor Warner and Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade Michael J. Schewel attended this morning’s announcement event.

HENRY COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Activewear, Inc. will open a textile manufacturing facility in Henry County. The company will create 405 new jobs through a $5 million investment. Virginia successfully competed with Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina for the project. Governor Warner and Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade Michael J. Schewel attended this afternoon’s announcement event.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Sherwood Brands will expand its candy confection operations in Mecklenburg County. The company will create 275 new jobs at its Chase City facility through a $2.7million investment. Virginia successfully competed with Massachusetts for the project. Governor Warner and Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade Michael J. Schewel attended this afternoon’s announcement event.

EMPORIA - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Creative Playthings, a manufacturer of residential wooden swing sets, will expand its operations in the City of Emporia. The company will invest $2.7 million in a 100,000-square-foot expansion, saving 160 existing jobs and creating 30 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for the project. Governor Warner and made the announcement today at the Emporia-Greensville Industrial Development Corporation’s Existing Industry & Business Celebration.