Big deals
Here is a sample of the state’s most significant economic development announcements in 2020 and 2021. All projects are expected to create at least 100 jobs.
Published
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Chesterfield County: Carvana, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, plans to invest $25 million to establish a 191,000-square-foot vehicle inspection and reconditioning facility in the county with the potential to create more than 400 jobs. The project, announced in 2019, was delayed by the pandemic but is back on track.
Henrico County: Last year, SimpliSafe, a producer of self-installed home security systems, established a $5.5 million customer support center in Henrico, employing more than 570 people. In July, it announced a $3 million expansion in Henrico, adding 250 jobs.
Petersburg: Utah-based pharmaceutical nonprofit Civica Inc. plans to invest $124.5 million to start an in-house manufacturing operation.
The project will create 186 jobs. Also, AMPAC Fine Chemicals LLC plans to invest $25 million and create 156 jobs at its plant adjacent to the Civica facility. It’s part of a larger federal effort to secure the domestic supply chain for essential pharmaceutical drugs and ingredients.
Richmond: Aditxt, a biotech innovation company focused on improving immune system health, will establish its first AditxtScore Center in Richmond in the second half of 2021. Aditxt plans to create more than 300 jobs and targets making a capital investment of $31.5 million over three years to scale up the immune health monitoring center.
HAMPTON ROADS
Newport News: indieDwell, a steel modular housing manufacturer, will invest more than $2 million to establish its first East Coast manufacturing facility in Newport News. The project will create 220 jobs when fully operational.
Norfolk: The Pamunkey Indian Tribe plans to break ground this year on its $500 million HeadWaters Resort & Casino, scheduled to open by late 2022 or early 2023. The Harbor Park-adjacent project is expected to create 2,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent jobs.
Portsmouth: Rivers Casino Portsmouth, a short drive from the Norfolk casino, is expected to open in late 2022. Operated by Rush Street Gaming, the $300 million resort is expected to create 1,400 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs.
Virginia Beach: Acoustical Sheetmetal Co. announced in July 2020 that it will invest $15.8 million to expand its Virginia Beach complex by 20 acres. This June, the company opened the 100,000-square-foot facility, expecting to add 200 jobs.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Arlington County: Microsoft Corp. will expand its workforce and add 475 jobs at a newly leased office in Rosslyn, which the tech giant expects to open in mid-2022. The announcement comes a year after Microsoft said it would create 1,500 jobs at a new research and development hub in Reston.
Fairfax County: ID.me, a federally certified identity provider, expects to hire more than 1,000 new employees in Northern Virginia before the end of this year. It has opened two new offices in Tysons.
Fairfax County: Guidehouse, a management consulting company serving the public and commercial sectors, will invest $12.7 million to establish a global headquarters at Tysons. The new campus will house more than 1,550 employees at full capacity, creating 900 jobs.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Rockingham County: Dynamic Aviation Group Inc. announced in November a $48 million expansion that is expected to create more than 200 jobs, in addition to its workforce of 750.
Warren County: Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, an unmanned aircraft systems service provider and manufacturer, announced it would create 249 jobs by locating its East Coast headquarters at the Front Royal-Warren County Airport, a $6 million project.
SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
Danville: The forthcoming $400 million Caesars Virginia casino is expected to create 1,300 permanent jobs and generate 900 construction jobs. It’s scheduled to open in 2023, city
officials say.
Pittsylvania: Staunton River Plastics Inc., a subsidiary of Rage Corp., will be the first tenant at the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt. It is investing $34 million and expects to create 200 jobs over four years. Work was delayed during the height of the pandemic, but construction appears to be on track.
Pittsylvania County: North Carolina-based Ison Furniture Manufacturing Inc. announced last October it will invest $3.5 million to acquire and renovate the recently closed A.C. Furniture Co. Inc. facility. The project is set to create 150 jobs.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
Bristol: The $400 million Hard Rock Bristol casino is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs once it is fully operational, as well as an additional 1,500 indirect jobs. The casino is expected to open at the Bristol Mall site in late 2022.
Tazewell County: Pure Salmon (formerly Dominion Aquaculture) will build a vertically integrated indoor aquaculture facility on the boundary of Tazewell and Russell counties. The company plans to invest $228 million and create more than 200 jobs, with opening set for 2023.
