Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Secretary of Commerce and Trade - Latest News Releases (c) Secretary of Commerce and Trade 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces $200 Million Non-Profit Medical Research Institute in Fairfax County]]> November 16 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the creation of The Ignite Institute, a nonprofit medical research institute established by Inova Health System and Dr. Dietrich Stephan, a recognized leader in the field of molecular medicine.

The Institute is the first entity built around the application of personalized medicine innovation in the community health setting. The project's $200 million investment in Fairfax County will create 415 jobs.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1145 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces Alpha Natural Resources to Build New Corporate Headquarters in Bristol]]> November 11 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Alpha Natural Resources will build its new corporate headquarters in Bristol, creating 69 jobs and retaining 131 jobs. This project comes as a result of the July 2009 merger of Alpha with Foundation Coal. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and Tennessee for the project.

"Alpha Natural Resources has had a solid presence in Virginia through its predecessor companies since the early 1900s, and I am glad to see them recommitting to business in the Commonwealth," said Governor Kaine. "Alpha is among a growing list of corporations-including MeadWestvaco, Hilton Hotels, Volkswagen of America and SAIC-who have chosen to call the Commonwealth their home. I applaud the company's growth, exemplified by its investment and job creation here in Virginia."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1140 <![CDATA[5,900 Jobs Created or Retained by Recovery Act Spending ]]> October 30 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine noted that state agencies have reported more than 5,900 jobs created or saved from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds flowing through the State Treasury. To date, more than $5 billion in ARRA contracts, grants and loans have been awarded in Virginia, with more than half in the form of direct aid to localities and organizations outside of state government.

"President Obama's Recovery Act was intended to get the economy moving again and in Virginia we are beginning to see that occur," Governor Kaine said. "These funds have allowed us to begin construction on infrastructure projects that we would not have been able to build, keep our Medicaid plan funded, improve our schools and in some cases build new ones, and expand unemployment benefits to those most affected by the economic crisis."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1130 <![CDATA[Groundbreaking Takes Place at New DARPA Headquarters]]> October 28 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine joined members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation and regional and federal partners to break ground on the new headquarters for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington County. The facility was considered for relocation during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, but Governor Kaine and the Virginia Congressional Delegation, along with members of the Virginia General Assembly, fought to keep it in the Commonwealth, retaining over 800 Virginia jobs.

DARPA's new facility will meet the mandatory Department of Defense anti-terrorism force protection standards and provide valuable space to move full-time support contractors on-site and accommodate future growth in the agency.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1129 <![CDATA[ARRA-Funded Route 3 Widening Begins]]> October 28 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine helped break ground on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project to widen more than 10 lane miles of Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. The project will be paid for with more than $25 million in ARRA funds.

"This is a great example of the type of job the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to move forward, and it would not have been possible without the support of the President and Congress," Governor Kaine said. "This project will put people to work, and it will pay benefits to the region and to commuters for years to come."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1128 <![CDATA[55 New Jobs in Grayson County is Announced]]> October 26 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Carolina Profile Design Corp., a lithographic commercial printing company, will invest $3 million to expand in Grayson County, creating 55 jobs. The company will add a metal machining process to its existing operations. Virginia successfully competed with Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the project.

"Carolina Profile Design has been a corporate staple in Grayson County since 1990," Governor Kaine said. "This expansion will enable the company to manufacture high-end metal parts for machinery and after-market products that are in demand around the world. In a region that has been hit by the economic downturn and offers an available workforce, 55 new jobs are significant."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1124 <![CDATA[50 New Jobs in Frederick County]]> October 16 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will invest $8.9 million to expand in Middletown in Frederick County, creating 50 jobs. The company will add a new medical liquid formula line to its existing operations at its Middletown facility, which produces clinical diagnostics products.

"For over 30 years, Thermo Fisher has thrived as a major employer in Frederick County," Governor Kaine said. "By investing and expanding in the Commonwealth, Thermo Fisher will create more jobs for working Virginias and reaffirms Virginia's status as the 'The Best State for Business.'"

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1115 <![CDATA[$19.5 Million Investment in City of Danville is Announced ]]> October 9 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Leaf Services (US) plans to invest $19.5 million to establish a tobacco processing facility in the City of Danville, creating 39 full-time jobs and 150 seasonal positions when fully operational. The local company, JTI Leaf Services, will process both flue-cured and burley tobacco in the United States and ship to international markets.

"In these tough economic times, this multimillion dollar investment and the jobs it creates are especially significant in Southside Virginia," Governor Kaine said. "Even as we continue to diversify the region's economy, we're pleased by the opportunity to build on traditional industries that have historically been important in the Commonwealth."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1109 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces $40 Million in Recovery Funds for State Energy Plan ]]> October 6 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the allocation of $40 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to implement the Virginia State Energy Plan (SEP), a blueprint for funding energy-related initiatives throughout Virginia. The funding will help create jobs, encourage energy conservation, and promote alternative energy generation through rebates to residential and commercial consumers, as well as grants to localities and individual projects.

"Today's announcement is another positive step forward in improving the high quality of life that Virginia is known and continually recognized for," Governor Kaine said.

The $40 million in ARRA funding will be allocated to the Virginia Efficiency Rebate Program, the Renewable Energy Rebate Program and for biomass and waste-to-energy projects.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1106 <![CDATA[Energy Efficiency Rebates and Third Annual Energy Sales Tax Holiday Announced ]]> October 1 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced thelaunch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate program, a new program toencourage the purchase of high-efficiency equipment and products. The programwill use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment actto provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifyingequipment and products.

Governor Kaine also highlighted Virginia's third annualsales tax holiday on ENERGY STAR and WaterSense qualified products, which willtake place October 9-12, 2009. During this annual holiday, consumers can savemoney by buying certain qualified products tax-exempt, which will also deliversavings for years to come through lower home utility bills. As with last year'sholiday, high-efficiency products with ENERGY STAR or WaterSense certificationwill be exempt from sales tax.

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