Showing posts with label Hillsville Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillsville Virginia. Show all posts

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Governor McDonnell Announces 55 New Jobs in Carroll County

English: Bumpersticker on the campaign trail
English: Bumpersticker on the campaign trail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Classic Creations to invest $1.4 million in new commercial screen printing operation

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Classic Creations, LLC will invest $1.4 million to establish a new commercial screen printing operation to provide retail products to the sports industry. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 55 new jobs.

            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Classic Creations was established to fulfill a niche, and today we celebrate that the company chose Virginia and Carroll County as home to its retail products operation for the sports and motorsports industries. This project is a great fit for the recreation interests of the region, and the capital investment and new job creation is outstanding for Carroll County. We welcome Classic Creations to the Commonwealth and remain ready to do what we can to facilitate the company’s success.”

            “We commend the hard work and dedication of all involved to show Classic Creations that Carroll County is the best location for their new operation,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “An available facility that meets the company’s needs and allows quick start-up to production, and a workforce trained and available are major factors that put Virginia ahead of the competition. We are confident that Classic Creations will find success supplying products for the motorsports industry that is strong and thriving in Virginia.”

Classic Creations will provide high-tech screen printing, embroidery, art, packaging, warehousing, and fulfillment services to the nationwide imprinted apparel market. Classic Creations is a state of-the-art company that will provide contract and full package programs to major retailers, manufacturers, licensing companies, and promotional product distributors. Classic Creations CEO Keith Sanders has over 30 years experience in all phases of the apparel industry. Greg Crowder is a Classic Creations partner and has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, marketing, wholesaling and distributing products for NASCAR and other related entities.

Classic Creation products will be distributed nationwide for NASCAR, NFL, MLB, and NHL, catalog mail order, Cracker Barrel, College / University, corporate, private label apparel brands, and major retailers. All sales, administration, manufacturing, finishing, shipping, and distribution will be performed out of the facility in Carroll County, located at 358 Industrial Park Drive in Hillsville.    

Classic Creations CEO Keith Sanders said, “Classic Creations came to Carroll County for several reasons. The main reason being the high quality of the workforce, an available facility that fit Classic Creations requirements of square footage and curb appeal, lower startup cost, logistics (excellent transportation routes), and lower monthly operation cost. Also, a main reason was the hard work put forward by the Carroll County Administrator, The Carroll County Industrial Development Authority, The Carroll County Board of Supervisors, The Virginia Tobacco Commission, the SBDC (Blue Ridge Crossroads), Virginia’s aCorridor, and the cooperation of the Town of Hillsville administration. All of these entities partnered to provide incentives and assistance to open the operation in Carroll County.”       

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Carroll County and Virginia’s aCorridor to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $175,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

            Carroll County Board of Supervisor Member Dr. Tom Littrell said, “The addition of Classic Creations to our community will not only provide jobs and investment, it will also provide commercial services for other areas. Classic Creations will have customers visiting Carroll County on a regular basis from all across the United States. Keith and Classic Creations will be doing work for folks such as the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NASCAR. We are exceptionally pleased that we can utilize our textile talents in other arenas and bring these 55 jobs to Carroll County.”

Mr. Richard Slate, Chairman of the Carroll County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), said, “With the support of the Board of Supervisors, the IDA has been working hard to fill vacant buildings in our Industrial Park with jobs. We are much more competitive as a community now that we have natural gas. This project in particular could not have landed here if the IDA had not installed the new natural gas system. It is really nice to see the fruits of our labor bring prosperity to the community I love.”

            “We are excited to assist Classic Creations in establishing its new operation in Carroll County,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore, Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “The addition of 55 new jobs is great news for the region, and we are confident they will be a great asset and corporate partner.”
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Monday, October 7, 2013

Governor McDonnell Announces 75 New Jobs in Carroll County

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell speaking at...
Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell, Photo by  Gage Skidmore  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ Virginia Produce Company to Quadruple Size of Facility, Purchase Additional $12 Million of Virginia Grown Produce Over Three Years ~
Creation of “Nature’s Hope (Helping Organizations & People Excel)” Product Line Supports Continued Positive Partnership with Mount Rogers Community Service Board

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Virginia Produce Company (VPC), a family-owned agricultural produce wholesaler located in Hillsville, will more than quadruple the size of its operating facility and create 75 new full-time equivalent (FTEs) positions.  During the three-year project, VPC will invest more than $2.54 million in capital improvements and purchase an additional $12 million of Virginia grown produce from Virginia farms.  A unique aspect of this project will be the employment of 75 packing line workers, accounting for 50 FTEs, from the Mount Rogers Industrial and Developmental Center (IDC), a division of the Mount Rogers Community Service Board that trains and employs disabled Virginians.  In addition to the 75 IDC workers, VPC will also employ 25 full-time positions.
            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Virginia Produce Company symbolizes so much of what defines Virginia agriculture, the Commonwealth’s largest industry.  It is a family-owned business established on the idea that bringing the grower and wholesaler closer together benefits everyone involved, including the consumer.  Incorporating the Nature’s Hope project into this expansion further defines what Virginia Produce is all about. This partnership with Mount Rogers IDC provides a great opportunity for local residents with disabilities to be part of a productive work setting while earning a paycheck.”

            VPC currently sorts, processes, packages, and distributes a variety of Virginia grown produce including tomatoes, pumpkins, sweet corn, squash, and broccoli from its 30,000 square foot facility in the Carroll County Industrial Park.  The expansion project will involve VPC purchasing a 138,000 square foot facility in the industrial park and making the necessary upgrades, including installation of larger coolers and more production lines, increasing capacity for current products and allowing expansion into new produce markets.

          “This VPC project is an excellent example of a company fulfilling the dual purposes of the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) program – making positive impacts both at the processing facility and on Virginia growers,” said Todd P. Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “The additional capital investment and job creation at VPC’s facility is outstanding for Carroll County.  I am especially excited about VPC’s commitment to purchase 50% of their increased produce demand, an estimated $12 million out of $24 million in new purchases in the next three years, from Virginia growers.  This infusion of additional revenue into the local agricultural economy is a huge boost to our farm families.”
VPC works directly with its growers through a farm-management program, helping farmers grow specifically what the market demands.  VPC’s farm-management program currently includes 20 Virginia growers and 1,800 acres with produce being sold into local and regional markets.  The new facility will help to serve a significant increase in the size of the farm-management program.
The President of Virginia Produce Company, Moir Beamer, said "We are excited about this opportunity to expand our business operations in Carroll County and provide our customers with a larger selection of Virginia grown produce.  With this program, we are working with people with disabilities and providing consumers with more options."
            VPC’s impact on area farmers has been distinctly positive.  Working closely with VPC to coordinate production, farmers have greater certainty that crops will be sold and typically bring more acreage under cultivation over time to meet increased demand.  As the VPC expansion comes online, there will be greater opportunities for existing and new farmers in the region.
David Hutchins, Chairman of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors said, "The expansion of Virginia Produce in Carroll County is an excellent example of utilizing the resources we have to create economic prosperity.  Agriculture is our leading industry in Carroll and to build upon our strengths is vital.  We have a local business that we are able to assist in growing that will generate jobs and capital investment.  And at the same time, Carroll County will sell the former Sara Lee property to Virginia Produce and that real estate will be back on the tax rolls."
The expansion of VPC also allows for the growth of another signature agricultural institution in the area, the Southwest Virginia Farmers’ Market.  With a retail division owned by Carroll County and a wholesale division owned by the Commonwealth and operated by the County, the market is a tremendous resource for local farmers that provides wholesale, grading, packing and cooling operations.  With its relocation, VPC will lease its existing facility to the market with an option to purchase.  The lease of the VPC facility will double the market’s capacity and ensure that the produce infrastructure in the facility will remain an asset to the farming community.
            The expansion is also made distinctive by VPC’s commitment to the “Nature’s Hope” product label it is introducing.  The new product label will involve the employment of up to 75 disabled Virginians in the facility through the Mount Rogers IDC.  HOPE stands for “Helping Organizations & People Excel” and is focused on programs that help disadvantaged groups excel in life through integrating them into different aspects of the creation of the product.  Involvement at VPC could include harvesting, packaging produce, or any other aspect of moving product from farm to table.  With the disabled population facing unemployment rates of 40 percent, “Nature’s Hope” provides a terrific opportunity for these individuals to find meaningful work.  The program has already received support and interest from national grocery chains.
Frank Dowell, Director of Mount Rogers IDC said “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Virginia Produce Company in the packaging of locally-grown produce under the “Nature’s Hope” label.  Through the vision shown by company President Moir Beamer and his team, we will be able to provide more employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in our region.  We would like to express our enthusiasm in eager anticipation of Virginia Produce’s expansion and further collaboration with our agency.”
            Steve Smith, President and CEO of Food City said, "We value the relationships we have built with Virginia farmers and Virginia Produce Company.  Working together, we have continued to grow and strengthen our partnership, which has provided critical opportunities for part-time farmers to transition to full-time farming and expand their own operations. Virginia Produce has been extremely instrumental in this process through their collaboration with the farmers in Southwest Virginia. The addition of VPC’s “Natures Hope” project will allow us to continue to work jointly with local farmers to increase our supply and explore the potential to further diversify the crops currently produced in Southwest Virginia.”
           The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) worked with Carroll County to help make the project a reality. Governor McDonnell approved a $200,000 matching grant from the Governor's AFID Fund to assist Carroll with the project. The project is receiving additional assistance through the Tobacco Commission’s Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund, the State's Enterprise Zone Program and through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
According to a 2013 economic impact study by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually. Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide   more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.
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