Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced NTELOS has officially opened its customer care facility in the PortCentre I Building in Portsmouth. NTELOS is expected to build its staff to approximately 250 employees, while investing $9.6 million. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal represented the Commonwealth at today's event.

"We are very pleased to see the continued growth of this fine native Virginia company," Governor Gilmore said. "NTELOS, an industry leader, will find a welcome home in Portsmouth."

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced International Cold Storage (ICS) will construct a new facility in the Colleen Business Park in Nelson County. Moving its existing operations from Albemarle County to Nelson County will allow the company to expand and in turn remain in Virginia. ICS's expansion will create 74 new jobs and the relocation will retain the existing 73 positions, resulting in 147 new and preserved jobs. The company will invest $3.02 million in this expansion. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for this project.

RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Carlisle Motion Control intends to open a new friction material manufacturing facility in the Town of South Hill. This new facility will work closely with Carlisle’s high-volume friction plant in Fredericksburg and its research and development complex in Charlottesville. The new facility, scheduled to open in late 2001, will employ 110 people. Carlisle will invest $15 million in this project.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Harris-Tarkett, Inc. will purchase and operate the former Burruss facility in Brookneal, Va. Harris-Tarkett will invest $3.5 million in the Campbell County facility to manufacture unfinished hardwood flooring at this location. The company will also hire 100 new employees over the next 18 months. Virginia successfully competed with West Virginia for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Petals, Inc. will locate in Commonwealth Storage in Suffolk. Petals, a major manufacturer of artificial flowers, will hire 250 new employees. The company will also invest $2.1 million in this project.

"I am pleased that Petals has found a home in the City of Suffolk," said Governor Gilmore. "The addition of this company will further diversify the manufacturing base in Hampton Roads."

Norfolk - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co., Inc. will relocate its United States headquarters from New York City to Norfolk. Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. will invest $6.2 million to locate in a new building in the Lake Wright Executive Center. The company will also hire 235 people to work in this facility. Virginia successfully competed with Texas for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that ERNI Components, Inc. will expand its operation in the Rivers Bend Center in Chesterfield County. The expansion will create 550 new jobs and the company will invest $98.4 million to complete this project. Virginia successfully competed with Nevada for the investment.

"The Commonwealth's pro-business environment is vital to the satisfaction of our existing companies," said Governor Gilmore. "ERNI's decision to embark on such a major expansion is a testament to Virginia's success in this area."

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Creative Technology Incorporated will expand in Fairfax County. The company provides business solutions to clients in the areas of e-business, information management and information security. Creative Technology will hire 108 new employees with experience in information technology, web design, and application and systems engineering. The company will invest $1 million in this expansion.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Universal Companies, Inc. will expand and combine its corporate office and distribution facility in the Westinghouse Industrial Park in Washington County. Universal Companies, the leading single source provider of products to the Day Spa industry, will invest $3 million in this expansion. The company will also hire 74 new employees while retaining the 30 existing employees. Virginia successfully competed with Tennessee for this investment.

Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore and First Lady Roxane Gilmore, accompanied by key state economic development and tourism professionals, will lead a trade, tourism and investment mission to Europe from April 21 to May 4, 2001. The mission will promote Virginia as a thriving business center and exciting tourist destination. High-level meetings with key business executives in Germany and the United Kingdom will help facilitate positive decisions for Virginia with active business recruitment projects.