RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced two Virginia companies have received the prestigious Governor’s Award for Excellence for their participation in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Global Market Research (GMR) Program. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal presented the awards to the winning companies and their partnering students and professors today in Williamsburg at the 53rd Virginia Conference on World Trade.
NORFOLK - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co., Inc. has officially opened its United States headquarters in Norfolk’s Lake Wright Executive Park. Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. announced in April that it would invest $6.2 million to locate in the new building and would hire 235 people to work in this facility. The firm completed its move to Norfolk from New York City’s World Trade Center two weeks before the September 11th terrorist attacks.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that V&S Bristol Galvanizing, LLC will locate a galvanizing plant at the Bristol-Washington County Industrial Park in Washington County. The Washington County operation will employ 25 people and result in a $2.5 million private investment.
“V&S Galvanizing is a leader and innovator in the industry of hot dip galvanizing,” said Governor Gilmore. “I am pleased to see that V&S recognizes and will benefit from the Commonwealth’s strategic location, skilled labor force and high quality of life.”
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Alfa Laval will expand its operations in Henrico County with the addition of a new valve and pump manufacturing facility. The $10 million expansion will be adjacent to the company’s current facility in the International Business Park. Alfa Laval presently employs approximately 250 people in the Richmond area and will create 100 new jobs with this expansion.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Centrivity, a start-up technology company, will locate its operations in Herndon, Virginia. Through an initial commitment of approximately $3 million from its founders, Centrivity will initially employ 45 people. Within three years of operation, it is expected that employment will grow to more than 300 employees. Centrivity is associated with a portfolio of companies, including Digicon Corporation, which is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
WASHINGTON COUNTY - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Bristol Compressors will expand its presence in Washington County at its current location in the Bristol-Washington County Industrial Park. The $45 million Virginia expansion is a consolidation of the company's international production into one location. Bristol Compressors will hire 350 new employees to fill positions as assemblers, machinists and electricians.
Newport News - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Ferguson Enterprises will create 400 new jobs at its current corporate office in the Patrick Henry Commerce Center in Newport News. Ferguson, the largest plumbing supply distributor in the United States, is owned by Wolseley plc, the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products. Ferguson's significant expansion has resulted in the need for an additional $20.5 million facility at its Newport News headquarters campus.
BLAIRS, Va. - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that K-B Toys will locate a distribution facility in the former eToys building in Blairs, Virginia. The company will invest $10 million and create 150 new full-time jobs, including e-commerce database managers, inventory clerks, customer service representatives, systems administrators and management-level employees.
RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that LaJobi Industries, Inc. will locate a manufacturing operation in Blackstone. Headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, LaJobi Industries manufactures a line of baby cribs in Italy and sells them to national chain stores including Babies-R-Us and Burlington Coat Factory. The company is investing $4 million in the Blackstone facility, where it will hire 110 people to manufacture the complementary case goods for its cribs. Virginia successfully competed with New Jersey and Canada for this project.