Two projects expected to create 50 jobs in Danville-Pittsylvania County

Published September 7, 2017 by Robert Powell, III

Two companies announced plans on Thursday that are expected to create a total of 50 jobs in the Danville-Pittsylvania County area.

Unison Ltd., a British tube-bending machine company, will invest $5.2 million and create 35 jobs in establishing its first U.S. manufacturing operation in the Cane Creek Centre Industrial Park, jointly owned by the city and the county.

Meanwhile, Intertape Polymer Group, a packaging products and systems company, will invest $7 million and add 15 jobs in expanding its manufacturing and distribution capacity at its Pittsylvania facility.

Virginia competed against North Carolina and the United Kingdom for the Unison project. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said he recruited the company during his June trade and marketing mission to Europe where he met with company officials at the Paris Air Show.

Unison is a manufacturer of electronically actuated pipe-bending and automation machinery used in aerospace, automotive, marine, military, oil and gas, and general engineering applications.

McAuliffe approved a $105,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Danville and Pittsylvania with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission also approved $330,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.

Unison is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will also be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Intertape’s Pittsylvania facility occupies more than 45 acres and now employs nearly 300 workers. This latest investment will bring the company’s recent upgrades and expansions at the facility to $25 million. Virginia competed against Illinois and South Carolina for the project.

Intertape is involved in the development, manufacture and sale of a variety of paper and film-based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, polyethylene and specialized polyolefin films, woven-coated fabrics and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use.

Based in Montreal and Sarasota, Fla., the company employs about 2,450 workers. It has operations in 20 locations, including 13 facilities in North America and one each in Asia and Europe.
 
McAuliffe approved a $50,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission also approved $75,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.In addition, the company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program.