Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces 225 New Jobs in Henrico County

~ McKesson Medical-Surgical to invest more than $10 million to expand divisional headquarters operation~

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that McKesson Medical-Surgical, Inc., an affiliate of McKesson Corporation, a leading healthcare services and information technology company, will invest more than $10 million in capital expense to expand its divisional headquarters operation in Henrico County, creating 225 new jobs. The company will relocate its headquarters facility to 168,500 square feet of the Deep Run III building, which was recently purchased and renovated by Markel|Eagle Partners.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “McKesson Corporation’s expansion is great news for the people of Henrico County and our Commonwealth as a whole as we work to grow and diversify Virginia’s economy. Henrico County has been home to the company’s Medical-Surgical business unit for many years, and McKesson Medical-Surgical is an important employer, paying highly competitive salaries to nearly 600 staff in the region. Virginia’s high quality workforce and world class business environment played a key role in helping McKesson expand, and we are going to continue to leverage those outstanding assets to bring more companies like them here to the Commonwealth.

“The success and growth of Virginia’s existing businesses are key to sustainable economic vitality in the Commonwealth,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade.“Virginia values its partnership with McKesson Corporation, and McKesson Medical-Surgical has been a significant corporate citizen in Henrico County since 1998. We are proud that the company continues to excel in the marketplace, and celebrate this expansion of its divisional headquarters that brings new jobs and capital investment.”

McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc., headquartered in Henrico County, is an affiliate of the McKesson Corporation. McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 15th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. McKesson works with payers, hospitals, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson Medical-Surgical helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services.

“This new, state-of-the-art headquarters will create a collaborative workspace that helps us attract and retain the top talent we need to grow our business and better serve our customers as we work to improve healthcare in the U.S.,” said Stanton McComb, president, McKesson Medical-Surgical. “McKesson Medical-Surgical is proud to be a Top-50 employer in Richmond and I look forward to McKesson’s continued investment in Virginia.”

Since acquiring the property in 2011, Markel|Eagle Partners has completed a multi-million dollar renovation that transformed Deep Run III into one of the premier suburban office buildings in the market.

“McKesson Medical-Surgical’s selection of Deep Run III as the home of their divisional headquarters operation is a great win for all involved,” said J.B. Gurley, a principal with Markel|Eagle. “We have worked very hard to reposition Deep Run III so when we were selected by such a fine company it was a great day for our firm.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Henrico County Economic Development Authority and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia.Governor McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henrico County with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“McKesson’s Medical-Surgical Division has been one of Henrico County’s major employers for as long as I can remember,” said Henrico Board of Supervisors Chairman Patricia S. O’Bannon. “We are pleased with their decision to lease 168,500 square feet of office space in the Deep Run III Building as their new corporate headquarters, and are particularly excited about their plans to add 225 new jobs there over the next few years.” O’Bannon added, “Winning a project of this magnitude takes a team approach, and we appreciate the efforts of the VEDP, the Greater Richmond Partnership, and our local team of the EDA and administration.”

(Giving away your hard earned tax dollars to corporations like this because we can!)

Governor McAuliffe Announces $300,000 Local Innovation Grant

~ Funding to assist regional collaborative effort with small business development programs ~ 

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Local Innovation funding through Mecklenburg County for the Virginia’s Growth Alliance, which is a regional collaboration made up of 10 counties and one city in the Southern Virginia region. The grant will be used to develop several new programs for youth, new businesses and established businesses throughout the region to spur small business development and create jobs.
“Helping the Commonwealth’s existing and future business owners find ways to succeed is an important piece of building a new Virginia economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Programs like the Community Development Block Grant invest in the success of our communities and encourage business growth throughout Southern Virginia.”

This project will offer several different educational, mentoring and monetary programs including a pilot youth educational program involving both online and classroom education, a six-week “digital high touch” course for new entrepreneurs, a startup principles program for existing businesses, a microenterprise lending program funding business start-up or expansion, and a Peer2Peer XChange mentoring program to help develop network for new business owners.

The Virginia Growth Alliance is comprised of Mecklenburg County, Amelia County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Greensville County, Lunenburg County, Nottoway County, Prince Edward County and the City of Emporia.

“Entrepreneurial development is an indispensable component of economic growth and community development,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “We look forward to seeing the creativity and release of the entrepreneurial spirit throughout this region, and we hope this is a launch pad for these communities and businesses.”
Since 1982, the federally-funded CDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Virginia receives up to $17 million annually for this program. The CDBG program is a flexible tool for community improvement in Virginia and can address a wide range of needs, from infrastructure for new or expanding industries, new or improved water and sewer systems in rural areas, rehabilitation of housing in declining neighborhoods, revitalization of commercial districts, support to small businesses and support of facilities for a variety of needed critical community services.  Only eligible units of local government may apply for funding.
2014 CDBG Local Innovation Program:
Locality
Project Name
CDBG Award
Mecklenburg County

Project area to also include:
Amelia County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Greensville County, Lunenburg County, Nottoway County, Prince Edward County and the City of Emporia
VGA Small Business/Microenterprise Assistance Program
$300,000


(Giving millions to corporations and pennies to small business start ups that mean nothing to them.  But hey, at least it makes for great PR!)

Governor McAuliffe Announces 349 New Jobs in Appomattox County

~Lindenburg Industry, LLC to invest $113 million in first U.S. manufacturing operation~
Project result of Governor’s meeting with company officials in Beijing, China during Asia Marketing Mission

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Lindenburg Industry, LLC, a subsidiary of a Chinese-owned corporation, will invest $113 million to establish an industrial honeycomb manufacturing operation in the Town of Appomattox in Appomattox County. This project, which represents the first new company announcement in Appomattox in 15 years and the largest since Thomasville Furniture began construction in 1972, is a direct result of the Governor’s meeting with company officials in Beijing, China during his Asia Marketing Mission last month.Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 349 new jobs.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “An investment and project of this significance is transformational for Appomattox, and the Commonwealth is honored to add another international company to its roster. I had the great privilege of meeting with company officials in Beijing, China and close this significant win during my Asia marketing mission and I am thrilled that Lindenburg Industry is establishing their first U.S. manufacturing operation in Virginia. This project will revitalize a vacant facility, allowing quick start-up to production, and put approximately 350 people back to work in highly skilled manufacturing positions. These jobs are the stepping stones to building a new Virginia economy that will enable us to compete on a global scale, and the economic benefits that this project will bring to Appomattox and to the Commonwealth are tremendous.”

“We welcome Lindenburg Industry to Appomattox and to Virginia, and thank the company for this transformative investment and the creation of hundreds of new jobs,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This project is a great example of Virginia’s international connectivity as we continue to enhance our strong business relationship with China, and we look forward to Lindenburg Industry benefitting from the Commonwealth’s outstanding business climate, world class workforce and access to global markets through our port system.”
           
Lindenburg’s parent company is one of the world-leading investment holdings companies in China that is focused on energy, energy conservation and environmental protection related technologies. Being a publicly-traded company in Hong Kong (Listing code: HK. 901), EagleRide Investment Holdings Ltd. adheres to the corporate philosophy of being “positive, sagacious, enterprising and innovative.” Faced with a myriad of investment opportunities available around the world, EagleRide’s investment in the United States was in part encouraged by benchmark indexes reaching all-time highs in 2013 and the fact that America is home to some of the most exceptional infrastructures in the world. For these reasons, EagleRide Investment Holdings Ltd. has appointed various technical advisors in the U.S. to help in identifying investment prospects in energy, and environmental protection sectors.

“The U.S is characterized by low political risk, as well as an advanced level of legal protections for doing business and making investments,” says Stella Li, CEO of Lindenburg Industry, LLC and Chief Technology Officer of EagleRide Investment Holdings Ltd. “After an extensive search by our site location consultants at Development Advisors, LLC, we found the right location for our initial U.S. manufacturing operations in Appomattox, Virginia. This location provides us with an excellent business environment and the workforce talent we require to be successful. We are greatly appreciative of the support that the Town of Appomattox, Appomattox County, the State of Virginia, and Dominion Virginia Power have provided in making this project come to fruition. We also want to thank the North America Chinese Chamber of Commerce for their part in assisting with our integration into the North American economy on this particular project.”

Lindenburg will be manufacturing industrial environmental control components used in clean air emissions. The introduction of progressive environmental legislation around the world is a key driver of Lindenburg’s business activities. The environmental management system is the cornerstone of the company’s effort to make responsible use of natural resources and systematically reduce its wastewater, solid waste streams, and atmospheric emissions.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Town of Appomattox and Appomattox County to secure the project for Virginia. Dominion Virginia Power also provided support. Governor McAuliffe approved a $1.4 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Appomattox with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $1.17 million in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. The company will receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program. Additional funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Words cannot express the excitement and anticipation I have regarding the announcement that Lindenburg Industry is locating in the Town of Appomattox," said Appomattox Mayor Paul Harvey. "This has truly been a team effort by all of the parties involved, from the Governor's office to the local level.  The location of Lindenburg Industry in the Town of Appomattox will produce a huge economic boost, not only in the number of quality jobs being made available, but also to the local businesses and their ability to provide various support services. As Mayor of the Town of Appomattox, it is a privilege to welcome a company of the caliber of Lindenburg Industry to the Appomattox community."

“On behalf of Appomattox County and its citizens, I’d like to welcome Lindenburg Industry to our community,” said Ronnie Spiggle, Chairman of the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors. “This is a great day for Appomattox County. This will help our local economy, local businesses and will be a boost for our citizens by creating jobs for our people and to help them achieve the American dream. Appomattox is known for its history. I am delighted that Lindenburg Industry has chosen Appomattox to make some new history.”

“The Tobacco Commission is excited to welcome Lindenburg Industry to Appomattox County,”said Senator Frank Ruff, Vice Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “Having an available building was a major asset in attracting Lindenburg Industry.  The Commission awarded a significant TROF incentive for the company’s commitment to create 349 new jobs in Virginia’s tobacco region.”

“The Port of Virginia is happy to welcome another new company that is going to bring jobs and revenue to our state,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We look forward to establishing a strong relationship with Lindenburg Industry, LLC, as the company exports its finished product to China using the port. We are pleased that the competitive services to Asia, via The Port of Virginia, and the incentives offered by the port were factors in this company’s decision to locate its first US facility in Virginia.”

“Virginia continues to innovate and provide a fertile environment for attracting jobs and investment,”said Robert M. Blue, President of Dominion Virginia Power. “Reliable, low-cost energy is critical to the manufacturing renaissance in the United States and Dominion Virginia Power is pleased to be a partner in the equation.”

(Selling out Virginia and America for fun and profit.  Please ignore the other jobs lost and small businesses that are going out of business because they can no longer compete.)

Governor McAuliffe Announces 25 New Jobs in Madison County

Map of Virginia highlighting Madison County
Map of Virginia highlighting Madison County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~PH International, LLC to invest $4.5 million to expand headquarters operation~

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that PH International, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of home decor and garden products headquartered in Madison County, Virginia, will invest $4.5 million to consolidate operations of its subsidiary Plow and Hearth, LLC and sister company Viva Terra, LLC at its Madison County facility. The company will add 84,000 square feet and create 25 new jobs in the expansion, which will include adding warehouse storage for Plow and Hearth, as well as headquarters staff for Viva Terra.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Bringing new businesses into the Commonwealth and expanding existing businesses like PH International play a critical role in building a new Virginia economy that will enable the Commonwealth to remain competitive on a global scale. We are proud to have PH International on the impressive roster of companies that call Virginia home, and by growing their existing job base in an area that has been economically hard-hit, this project will help to build a solid foundation for economic success in Madison County and the greater region for years to come.”

“Growing our existing business is a key economic development strategy for the Commonwealth,”said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “We are excited about PH International’s growth in Madison County and the creation of new jobs paying above the average prevailing wage for the region.”

What began as a small retail store in Madison, Virginia in 1980, PH International, LLC has become one of the largest employers in Madison County. The PH International portfolio now includes the flagship brand Plow & Hearth®, plus five other brands, including Wind & Weather®, HearthSong®, Magic Cabin®, Problem Solvers®, and Reuseit®. The Plow & Hearth brand also has 24 retail locations located throughout the Mid-Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina up to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PH International, LLC was purchased in 2010 by the owners of Evergreen Enterprises, based out of Richmond, Virginia. The company’s owners, Ting Xu and Frank Qiu, came to the U.S. from China when they were in college, made Virginia their home, and started Evergreen in 1993 when Ting and her mother began making and selling garden flags at the Virginia State Fair.  Combined, Plow and Hearth, Evergreen Enterprises, and recently acquired VivaTerra (eco-friendly home décor catalog and online brand) now represent a global wholesale and retail enterprise. 
           
 “Central Virginia is the perfect place to expand our business, accommodate our rapid growth from the past few years, and absorb recently acquired and future brands,” stated Ting Xu, CEO of PH International. “In Madison, we have access to a talented, dedicated workforce, beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and we have long-standing, strong ties to the community."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Madison County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Madison County with the project. Additional funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“The Madison County Board of Supervisors is most pleased with Plow and Hearth’s decision to expand its facility in Madison County,” said Doris Lackey, Chair of the Madison County Board of Supervisors. “We have long enjoyed a beneficial and productive relationship with this firm, from its inception more than 34 years ago to its place in our community today.

Plow and Hearth has been a great partner and contributor to the community and has an excellent and successful business model. Madison County looks forward to many years of a mutually beneficial and productive relationship with Plow and Hearth.”

Governor McAuliffe announces new digital gateway to connect Chinese travelers to Virginia

English: Main Terminal of in Virginia, USA.
English: Main Terminal of in Virginia, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ Launch of new Chinese-language landing page will help travelers plan their next visit to Virginia~

(We need someway to provide Chinese investors a chance to visit their new purchases of Virginia and America)

RICHMOND –  Governor Terry McAuliffe announced yet another gateway connecting Chinese travelers to Virginia with the creation of a brand new landing page on the state’s tourism website, Virginia.org. The landing page, virginia.org/china, will provide Chinese travelers with unprecedented access to curated itineraries and resources, including information about the region’s rich history, diverse shopping opportunities, iconic cultural experiences, incredible outdoor activities, and award-winning culinary offerings. Additionally, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has produced a 15-page brochure which provides the Chinese traveler with a suggested six-day itinerary. All resources are provided in Chinese.

The new landing page is the 16th of its kind. VTC’s international landing pages currently welcomes visitors from countries like France, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, and Japan, each in the respective country’s official language.

With China as one of Virginia’s top emerging markets, Governor McAuliffe has recognized the importance of launching new initiatives to build Virginia’s economic bridge to China. The creation of the landing page follows a successful collaboration earlier this year with Air China, and the establishment of new nonstop flights between Beijing and Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The new air route is expected to bring in an additional 16,000 tourists and business travelers to the capital region annually, which will result in 24,000 additional hotel room nights and $14 million in local spending annually.

As part of the memorandum of understanding with Air China, today Governor McAuliffe met with eight Chinese tour operators visiting Virginia as part of a familiarization tour in Virginia Beach. The purpose of this tour is to create awareness of the exceptional travel experiences and tourism products that are available around the Commonwealth for Chinese travelers.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia has a longstanding and productive relationship with China, and I am passionately committed to expanding that relationship,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “There is great opportunity to continue building strong partnerships and a powerful bridge to connect our two great countries. These new resources will help unite businesses, friends, families, and universities, and will help us to continually improve our communication to Chinese travelers.”

“International tourism is one of our strongest markets, and one that has incredible growth opportunity,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “The estimated economic impact of Air China alone is evidence of just how important these partnerships are to the new Virginia economy. It is our hope that these new resources will continue to create opportunities for Chinese travelers to experience all Virginia has to offer for many years to come.”

Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. In 2013, travelers spent $21.5 billion, supporting 213,000 jobs and provided more than $1.42 billion in state and local taxes.

To learn more about Virginia’s international marketing efforts, please visit: http://www.virginia.org/international/.

(Selling out our country for fun and profit.)

Governor McAuliffe Announces 50 New Jobs in City of Salem

Adapted from Wikipedia's VA county maps by Set...
Adapted from Wikipedia's VA county maps by Seth Ilys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ Mersen USA to invest $5.7 million to expand operation ~

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Mersen USA, a subsidiary of Mersen SA, a global expert in electrical specialties and graphite-based materials headquartered in France, will invest $5.7 million to expand its operation in the City of Salem, creating 50 new jobs.The facility designs and manufactures graphite and silicon carbide heat for highly corrosive and high-temperature fluids and skid systems, encompassing entire process systems in a single unit. Customers include chemical companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other severe process industries. With this project, Mersen USA will expand its skid systems capacity, as well as relocate the company’s reactive metal equipment manufacturing business from California to Salem.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Creating good jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector is a central part of growing and diversifying Virginia’s economy. This announcement is significant for a locality that is aggressively trying to rebound economically and for Mersen USA as they continue to benefit from our Commonwealth’s world class workforce and business environment. The facility employs approximately 80 people working to optimize manufacturing processes in a variety of key industries, which is essential to the future of advanced manufacturing. We are thrilled to see the Salem operation grow and absorb the company’s relocated metal manufacturing business as part of this expansion.”

“Mersen USA’s decision to expand and relocate a business division to its Virginia operation speaks volumes about the company’s experience in our world-class business environment,” saidMaurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Mersen is an important employer in the City of Salem, and this great project confirms the company’s long-term commitment to the region.”

Mersen USA designs innovative solutions to enable clients to optimize manufacturing processes in sectors such as energy, transportation, electronics, chemical, pharmaceutical, and process industries. Mersen USA has manufacturing facilities in 35 countries, employs over 6,000, and reports 2013 sales of Euro 739 million. Established in 1940, Mersen USA has nine production sites in seven states. 

“Mersen USA chose Salem for this expansion of our systems and relocation of our U.S. reactive metals equipment fabrication businesses because the City of Salem has always provided a business friendly environment and the community provides skilled and dedicated employees,” said Shawn Malone, President, Mersen USA, Chemical Equipment Div. “We have been operating in Salem since 1986 without regret, and are especially proud of recently achieving 2,000 days without a lost time accident and expect to pass our previous record of 3,000 days as we expand and grow. Mersen has not achieved this sort of safety record anywhere else in the world and it speaks volumes in regards to the Salem operation and especially its people.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Salem and the Roanoke Regional Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $140,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Salem with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“The City of Salem is elated that Mersen USA has chosen to expand its operation in Salem and will be adding 50 new jobs,” said City Manager Kevin Boggess. “Mersen is one of those companies tucked away on the fringes of our city that goes about its daily business turning out million dollar equipment with very few people knowing what they actually do. The $140,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity fund is of utmost importance because without it, the City would not be able to meet the Company’s needs alone. With Salem’s unemployment rate at 5.8%, this project represents a wonderful boost to our economy, and we certainly do welcome the jobs it will create.”