Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Southern Virginia JTI aids city’s River District development

JTI aids city’s River District development

Published March 31, 2013 by Veronica Garabelli

A global company is making its mark in Danville, in more ways than one. Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has donated $400,000 for a fountain to be built in Danville’s River District, a project aimed at revitalizing Danville’s downtown.

“It was a good opportunity to bring back a little history … continue to be a part of the old tobacco heritage here and help the city at the same time,” says Steve Daniels, president of JTI Leaf Services, which is part of Geneva-based JTI.

The fountain is expected to be finished next year. It is meant to symbolize “the legacy of tobacco as an economic engine for Danville over a span of four centuries,” according to a news release.

JTI located its first U.S. plant in Danville in 2009. A big draw for the company was Danville’s ready-to-go work force, which has experience with tobacco processing. Two major tobacco processors left the area in 2005: Dimon Inc. and Universal Leaf Tobacco Co.  “We would have had to compete for that labor in another place, so it worked very well for us,” Daniels says.

JTI Leaf Services buys tobacco from farmers and processes it at the Danville facility. The tobacco then is sent to a central storage location. “From that facility, [the tobacco leaves] are shipped to a manufacturing facility, as needed,” Daniels says.

U.S. tobacco is considered to be some of the most flavorful in the world, and the leaf grown in the Old Belt of Southern Virginia and North Carolina “is considered to be best of the best,” Daniels says.

The company originally planned to invest $19 million, hire 39 full-time employees and 150 seasonal workers. JTI ended up committing more than $40 million, hiring nearly 50 full-time workers and 230 seasonal employees. “That to me was a very nice surprise,” says Jeremy Stratton, Danville’s economic development director. “They’ve been very successful here and done a great job.”

JTI has more than 25,000 employees and sales in 120 countries. It is the global tobacco division of Japan Tobacco Inc., the world’s third largest global manufacturer of tobacco products.

Daniels says JTI Leaf Services has seen consistent growth since the company began operations in 2010. “We’re planning a steady growth into the future and that continues to be our plan,” Daniels says.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

College is expanding programs to meet demand

Virginia Business logo

Applied Felts plans to expand in Henry County

Karen Jackson. Photo courtesy New College Institute

Unmanned Systems Association of Va. names board chair

Former state Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson will help promote unmanned systems industry

Trending

13th annual Best Places to Work

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

Working at Pinnacle Financial Partners

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

13th annual Best Places to Work

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

Working at Pinnacle Financial Partners

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk