RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a leader in power and energy technologies, will invest $6.2 million to upgrade equipment and increase manufacturing capacity at its Bland County operation. The facility is the largest private-sector employer in the county and the leading producer of dry-type transformers in North America. The Bland County operation successfully competed with other Power Grid manufacturing facilities across the United States for this project, which will create 40 new jobs. 

HAMPTON—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) will create more than 250 new jobs by establishing an Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence in Hampton. HII is the nation’s largest military shipbuilding company and provides professional services to government and industry. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.
 

RICHMOND—The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of 12 companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. The VALET program assists companies in the Commonwealth that are committed to international exporting as a growth strategy. To participate, each business must meet both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria, and participating firms are chosen based on their dedication to growing export sales. To date, 359 Virginia companies have been accepted to participate in the VALET program.

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Energix Renewable Energies Ltd., one of Israel’s largest renewable energy companies, will invest $1.1 million to establish its U.S. subsidiary headquarters in Arlington County. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina and South Carolina for the project, which will create 33 new jobs. Governor Northam met with Energix executives in Israel during an international trade and marketing mission in November 2019.

RICHMOND—The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that its Division of International Trade is adapting its Trade Missions program to a virtual platform in response to the impacts of the pandemic, travel restrictions, and sustained interest in international business development assistance by Virginia exporters.

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Torc Robotics, a Blacksburg-based leader in self-driving vehicle systems, will invest $8.5 million to expand its software development operations in Montgomery County. The company will establish an additional facility at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in close proximity to its current operation in the Blacksburg Industrial Park. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina and Texas for the project, which will create 350 new jobs.
 

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS), one of the largest wireless network operators in the country, will relocate one of its Customer Experience Centers to the former Sam’s Club on Laburnum Avenue in Henrico County. This relocation will bring $30 million in new investment to the facility, retain approximately 800 jobs, and create up to 500 new jobs, bringing the facility’s total employment to approximately 1,300 full-time employees. 

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that 10 companies across the Commonwealth have graduated from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program. VALET, which now has over 300 graduated companies, assists Virginia exporters that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as a growth strategy.
 

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Musser Lumber Company, Inc. will expand current operations in Rural Retreat, creating 12 new jobs and investing $2.4 million in Wythe County. The family-owned company is adding new production and drying capacity for sawdust and wood shavings which it will source exclusively from Virginia sawmills. Over the next three years, this will lead to more than $8.5 million in additional forest product purchases.
 

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Greenswell Growers, Inc. will invest more than $17 million to establish a new commercial hydroponic greenhouse operation in Goochland County’s West Creek Industrial Park. The company will create 27 new jobs in addition to internships and learning opportunities for Goochland County High School’s Career and Technical Education students.