Author: Spencer Johnson

Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces $90 Million in Grants to Develop Industrial Sites Across Commonwealth  

Virginia Business Ready Sites Program helps attract new businesses by increasing portfolio of competitive project-ready sites  

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a total of $90 million in Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) development grants for 21 sites across the Commonwealth. Administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), this discretionary program helps characterize and develop sites to enhance the Commonwealth’s infrastructure with more competitive project-ready sites, to attract new business and accelerate expansion in Virginia. The program’s goal is to identify, assess, and improve the readiness of industrial sites with at least 100 contiguous, developable acres or 50 acres in the western part of the Commonwealth.

“The leading priority of the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program is to increase our project-ready sites portfolio across the Commonwealth, and this unprecedented site development funding is an important step forward in strengthening Virginia’s infrastructure,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Prepared sites drive economic growth, and we have to move faster to attract new businesses. We are hitting the accelerator to build a best-in-class business environment so the Commonwealth can compete to win, and I have included the necessary additional funding for the VBRSP in my proposed budget.”

The program has two components: 1) Site characterization to assess and designate a site’s current level of development; and 2) Site development to further develop a pool of potential sites across the Commonwealth. Localities can apply for grants to assist with the costs associated with the initial assessment and the development required to increase a site’s current designation level.

“Speed to market is an increasingly crucial factor in site selection decisions for economic development projects, and we are making strategic infrastructure investments to ensure a robust portfolio of sites,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “These Virginia Business Ready Sites Program grant awards will enhance 21 sites around the Commonwealth, helping to ensure that site demands across a wide spectrum of project parameters can be met and that all regions participate in Virginia’s economic growth.”

“It is critical for Virginia to create a diverse portfolio of sites that are attractive to different industry sectors and meet varying location and infrastructure needs, and these grants are a major step in the right direction to help the Commonwealth catch up on site development,” said Jason El Koubi, VEDP President and CEO. “Additional funding for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program will allow VEDP to expand the program and invest in more sites, enhancing the Commonwealth’s infrastructure and accelerating economic development in Virginia.”

The Virginia Business Ready Sites Program was developed by a team of state, regional, and local stakeholders including VEDP, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, railroad representatives, utility representatives, civil engineers, and other government, business, and industry representatives. Grants are considered on a competitive basis and made at the discretion of an investment committee composed of VEDP and Administration leaders.

Fiscal Year 2023 VBRSP award recipients include the following:

More information on the VBRSP is available here.   

The Appalachian Regional Commission announced today that Henry County will receive $1.5 million to complete a steel natural gas pipeline from the Patriot Line to the Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park. This project will install a pipeline that can deliver a maximum natural gas volume of four million standard cubic feet per hour, and will help to expand the area’s opportunities for large, transformational projects. The project will serve a facility that has already created over 200 jobs and will enable more companies to move jobs into Commonwealth Crossing and the surrounding area.

Governor Northam Announces 212 New Jobs in Henry County

 ~ Press Glass to invest $43.55 million to establish first Virginia manufacturing operation ~

 RICHMOND— Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Press Glass, the largest independent flat glass processing operation in Europe, will invest $43.55 million to establish a 280,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Henry County. Press Glass represents the first company to locate in the county’s Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 212 new jobs.

 “We are honored Press Glass has chosen to locate a major manufacturing operation in Henry County and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “Henry County’s optimal location lets companies easily connect to both domestic and international markets, and the county’s strategic investments in growing its manufacturing workforce have made it even more attractive to companies who want to expand in the U.S. market. Press Glass will be an important addition to the Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park, and we thank the company for its significant investment and the creation of over 200 new, 21st-century jobs.”

 Headquartered in Poczesna, Poland, Press Glass was founded in 1991 and employs 2,100 across its 11 manufacturing operations. As the largest independent flat glass processing operation in Europe, the company processes glass for fabricators of windows and doors, facades, solar and photovoltaic panels, and more.

 “This is an exciting win for Henry County, the region, and the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “In addition to offering a pipeline of skilled talent, Henry County’s ability to provide a pad-ready site that accelerates the company’s timeline was a key component in their decision for Virginia. We are proud to welcome Press Glass to the Commonwealth’s corporate roster, and look forward to their future success.”

 “This new investment in Henry County is an important step for the company’s growth strategy,” said Press Glass Vice President Michael Lankford. “From this location, the new production facility enables Press Glass to enter a targeted sales territory and market segment. There are many reasons for selecting Henry County and the Commonwealth Crossing. The location of the industrial park is near our existing production facility in Stoneville, North Carolina, which will enable synergy between the two facilities, allowing them to share knowledge, resources, and management. Geographically, the industrial park also allows good access to highways and interstates. The proximity to future Interstate 73 will make transportation of materials more efficient. The industrial park allows opportunity for future growth and continued success. Building a formidable team will be paramount in the success of the operation, and we feel we can build such a team in this area. Working with Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development and the Commonwealth of Virginia reaffirmed this decision. Press Glass is looking forward to a successful future and working closely with the community.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $1 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $835,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Henry County is thrilled to welcome Press Glass to our community,” said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “Not only do we expand the number of foreign countries represented here, but we also put our first client into Commonwealth Crossing Business Center. It’s baseball season, and this is a grand slam for us.”

“An investment of this magnitude is great news for Henry County and all of Southern Virginia,” said Tobacco Commission member, Delegate Danny Marshall. “That a company like Press Glass is willing to make such a commitment to our area shows that we have the workforce and other assets, like Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park, to compete on a global scale when it comes to bringing jobs to our region. I look forward to seeing this project get underway and wish Press Glass many years of success here in Henry County.”

“212 new jobs is a big win for our region, and I’d like to thank Press Glass for selecting Henry County for this new manufacturing operation,” said Tobacco Commission member, Senator Bill Stanley. “I’m also pleased to see that Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park will be receiving its first business. Long term investments like Commonwealth Crossing are the building blocks that allow us to go out and compete for top companies like Press Glass, and today we’ve seen that investment pay dividends.”

Martinsville, VA (May 23, 2018) – Construction has begun on the Commonwealth Centre for Advanced Training (CCAT) at the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, and companies considering locating at the business park are taking notice.

“It has definitely enhanced our marketing efforts,” said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), which is seeking to recruit companies to the 800-acre business park in southern Henry County.

And that interest comes at a good time.

“We are as busy as we’ve been in my time as Henry County administrator,” said Tim Hall, who took over the job in August 2012. “Interest is strong right now in both Commonwealth Crossing and the Patriot Centre industrial parks in the county,” he said.

When companies look for new sites, “labor force and training are the No. 1” concerns, Heath said, and CCAT is designed to address those issues.

The 25,889-square-foot CCAT facility will serve only companies that locate in Commonwealth Crossing. In its 10,553 square feet of office/conference space, a company will be able to recruit and hire prospective employees. Then, new employees will train on the company’s own equipment that it will move into the building’s 15,336-square-foot high bay.

Once the training is completed, the company will remove the equipment to make way for the next business’ machinery and training.

Companies are “intrigued and receptive” to the idea of being able to train new employees near their new location, Hall said.

Henry County owns the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, and the EDC will own the CCAT building as well as have office space there. Patrick Henry Community College will provide the training at the facility.

Heath described CCAT as a “one-stop, seamless” facility that will save companies time and money on recruiting and training a staff.

The people who will work at companies locating in Commonwealth Crossing are now employed somewhere else, Heath and Hall both said.

“They have shown they have a work ethic and have been vetted and are looking to improve,” Hall said.

Heath said he tells prospective companies that they should expect to pay at least $15 an hour and if they do, they will have no problem attracting employees who can pass background checks and have good work ethics. “They want to be the preferred employer in an area,” Heath said. “A revolving door has real costs.”

Hall said he was surprised to learn that, according to EDC research, 1,600 people drive by the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre each day. “We need to give them a reason to turn right” into the new industrial park, he said.

And that is only a fraction of the employees who leave the area for jobs each day. According to 2015 figures from the EDC, nearly 11,000 people travel to jobs outside the area daily, with the highest percentage going to Roanoke-Salem where, according to Heath, they are attracted to higher paying jobs in the medical field. Conversely, nearly 9,800 people commute into Martinsville-Henry County daily, with the largest percentage coming from Danville-Pittsylvania County.

Henry County and Martinsville had a combined area unemployment rate of 4.7 percent in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Heath said there are 1,307 people in Martinsville-Henry County looking for work now, though he and Hall acknowledged that unemployment figures do not reflect people who have given up looking for work.

If someone wants a job locally now, there are positions available in companies such as Eastman, Monogram and Arconic, Hall and Heath said.

“The whole fantasy that there are no jobs here is completely bogus,” Hall said. He said for his budget presentation to the Henry County Board of Supervisors this spring he used the theme, “The Signs are Everywhere,” which he illustrated with photographs of “help wanted” signs throughout the county.

“If you’re willing to work … you can,” he added.

Heath said his recent travels have shown him that the labor problem is not unique to this area. It is a global issue, he said.

“The communities that can solve work force problems will win,” he said. It no longer is enough to have graded sites to attract companies, he said, pointing to the edge CCAT is giving Commonwealth Crossing.

Construction on the CCAT facility began around May 1, and it is expected to be completed in 12 months, Hall said. Right now, boards mark the spots where footings will be poured. G&H Construction of Salem is the contractor for the project, and subcontractors also are being used, he said. G&H also was the contractor for the new Meadow View Elementary School in Henry County. Delays in that project and weather issues held up the start of CCAT construction, Hall said.

“We have a great relationship with G&H,” Heath added.

The $13 million project at Commonwealth Crossing is funded with a $5 million Harvest Foundation grant as well as funds from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Those funds were leveraged to generate an additional $2.7 million in New Market Tax Credits through the U.S. Treasury Department to construct the CCAT building as well as a nearby water tank and sewer lift station for the business center.

There is no county tax money in the project, Hall and Heath said.

A flyer on the project states that it is expected to support 46 direct construction jobs at an average hourly wage of $18.82. Once complete, CCAT will have the capacity to train 1,500 individuals a year. CCAT is located on part of Lot 1 at Commonwealth Crossing. Its high bay will face a water tank being constructed at the business center.

WHAT IS THAT?

The large structure rising from the Commonwealth Crossing Business Park is the base of the water tank that will provide fire protection for companies locating there.

Hall said when the tank is completed by the end of this year; it will hold a million gallons of water that will be pumped in by the Henry County Public Service Authority (PSA).

The tower is made of concrete squares that were poured on the site and raised into place by a crane, Hall said. During that process, there were openings for the squares that resembled windows, raising speculation about the tower’s purpose by passersby, he said.

Those openings all have been filled, and the next step will be to place the tank itself on top of the tower, Hall said.

The work is being done by Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors LLC of Avon, Ind., which specializes in such work, Hall said. Henry County issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the project and Phoenix was the low bidder, he added.

The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area.  The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.

The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.

####