Fall 2009

Hanover County Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program Announced
Hanover County has been given a Recovery Zone Facility Bond allocation of $4,963,000, to be used for a wide variety of private business activities. Business owners expanding existing facilities or planning new facilities located in one of the three Recovery Zones (Doswell, Ashland/Lewistown, and Mechanicsville) who are interested in participating in this program should submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) requesting between $1 million and $2.5 million in Recovery Bond authority, for the purpose of financing improvements which will promote economic development and recovery in the County. The Recovery Bonds are tax-exempt private activity bonds and will be issued through the Hanover County Economic Development Authority.

The LOI shall contain the following:

-Project Title

-Name and address of business or person applying for funds

-Short project description identifying the type of business to be funded

-Total private investment, including that portion funded with Recovery Bonds

-Number of jobs created or retained

-Salaries for jobs created or retained

LOIs must be submitted no later that 3 P.M. on October 22, 2009 at the following address (faxes and emails will not be accepted):

Hanover County Department of Economic Development
9097 Atlee Station Road, Suite 304
Mechanicsville, VA 23116

A pre-submittal meeting will be held at the above location on September 22, 2009 at 2:00 PM to further describe the program and answer questions from prospective applicants. Guidelines for consideration of submittals are available on request.

For further information, contact:

Marc S. Weiss, Director
(804) 365-6464

 

Summer 2009

Hanover County Economic Development utilizes Social Media
Hanover County Economic Development (HCED) has recently added several forms of Social Media to improve our outreach to both existing and new businesses in Hanover. HCED updates both a Facebook and Twitter account. Our Facebook activity recently was written up in the Herald-Progress "A Search for Hanover County Presence on Facebook Yields Interesting Results". Look us up on Facebook and Twitter today!

Mechanicsville named to Money Magazine's Top 100 "Best Places to Live"
The Mechanicsville community has been named to Money Magazine's Top 100 Best Places to Live 2009 list available in the August issue of the publication. Mechanicsville has been named to this prestigious list in the past, ranking #57 in 2007. The ranking speaks highly to the quality of life in Hanover County.

Spring 2009

How to Do Business With the Federal Government Webinar
Thursday, June 18, 2009
12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Please follow this link for more information or to register:
http://www.cbh.com/email/seminars/govcon-business-0609.html

The webinar is sponsored and presented by Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.

 

Job Seminar to be Offered in Ashland

This seminar will be structured to help members of the community
apply techniques for getting hired. This is not a job fair, but a free
informational session for those who are unemployed or underemployed.

A panel of speakers will discuss the following:
Beginning a Job Search
Identifying Potential Employers
Knowing What Employers are Looking for
Writing a Great Resume
Preparing for an Interview

How to Get Hired Now
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church
800 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA 23005

To RSVP, please email Dawn Walker

 

Hanover ED Program highlighted in County Newsletter
Hanover County’s quarterly newsletter, The Hanover Review, currently highlights Hanover Economic Development’s "Business First" business
visitation program. Karen Epps, Existing Business Coordinator, shares
information about the program and how it plays a part in Encouraging
Business in Hanover County.

Also highlighted is the opening of the Capital Regional Employment
Transition Center, located in Glen Allen off Cox Road. This workforce center was funded by a State grant and serves as a resource center to those who are without work.

Click to read more

Job Search Strategies in Today’s Economy
Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Greater Richmond YMCA
Downtown Branch, Gottwald center, second floor

The purpose of this seminar is to help members identify techniques to conduct a job search. This is not a job fair, but an informational session on how to find a job. For those who have been displaced, unemployed, or underemployed, the seminar will focus on how to put your best foot forward even in challenging times.

Click for more details

Winter 2009

Tyson Foods to Add 180 New Jobs in Hanover County
Tyson Foods Inc. announced February 23, 2009 that they plan to add
180 jobs to staff a new production line at their Hanover plant.

Click for more news on this exciting development.

 

Hanover Companies Named Company to Watch in 2009
Two Hanover companies have been recognized as Greater Richmond Companies to Watch (GRCTW) 2009. Marz Industies, Inc., a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell-based systems that provide air conditioning, heating and electric power for idle or idling long haul trucks, and SMASH direct, one of eBay’s Top 50 on-line resellers of pre-owned camera gear and musical instruments, were named with this prestigious designation by the Venture Club of Richmond.

The Venture Club of Richmond introduced this program to promote the entrepreneurial environment of the Greater Richmond area by highlighting businesses which have the potential to become significant contributors to the local economy.

The GRCTW awards companies not only on past performance, but for their ambition to disrupt an industry, introduce major innovation and take the risk to succeed spectacularly.

For more information on GRCTW and the Venture Forum, visit www.ventureclub.com.

Hanover receives 2nd AAA Bond Rating 
(full story)

Fall 2008

Bass Pro Open in Hanover County 
Bass Pro Shops, recently voted the #1 outdoor retailer in America by Sporting Goods Business Magazine, celebrated its 52nd store’s Grand Opening on October 2nd , 2008. The new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is the signature tenant for the 186-acre Winding Brook development project located at the intersection of I-95 and Lewistown Road in Hanover County .

The Grand Opening celebration was preceded by a special Evening for Conservation event that was held the evening of October 1 st , and the celebration was open to the public. Area conservation groups partnering with Bass Pro Shops set up display booths to educate customers on their efforts and projects with a portion of the night’s sales benefiting the National Fish Initiative’s "More Fish" campaign.

Grand Opening festivities included special exhibits, celebrity guests, store-wide savings and fantastic giveaways. Bassmaster Classic champ Woo Daves and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staffer Chris Daves, along with legendary fly fishing icon Lefty Kreh were in attendence to share some of fly fishing secrets.

Fly fishing expert and author Beau Beasley and renowned wildlife artist and sculptor Tim Wolfe were also part of the festivities.

Special displays included the Bass Pro Shops #1 NASCAR car, the Bass Pro Shops #20 Sprint car and the awesome King of Bucks Trailer featuring 25 world record whitetail deer mounts.

The store offers 150,000 square feet of outdoor excitement including the area’s largest selection of quality gear for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and marine. Much more than a hunting and fishing store, however, Bass Pro Shops also offers equipment for hiking, backpacking, outdoor cooking and more. Shoppers will find outdoor apparel for men, women and children, along with a fine selection of outdoor, casual and athletic footwear. A gift and nature center serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.

Bass Pro Shops stores are much more than just a retail store. The sights and sounds of the outdoors are brought indoors through museum-quality wildlife dioramas, huge murals and chandeliers depicting outdoor scenes, massive log and rock work, waterfalls, and other water features, and aquariums stocked with native fish species. The attention to the finest detail from wildlife tracks in the concrete, to wildlife carvings on logs and rafters is what helps add to the uniqueness of a Bass Pro Shops store.

A local theme can be felt throughout all Bass Pro Shops stores with use of artifacts and memorabilia from the area as well as historic photos of local outdoor enthusiast that pay tribute to the great outdoor heritage of the region. The Hanover store contains a realistic model of Virginia ’s famous Natural Bridge , complete with George Washington’s initials carved in the landmark . Laser galleries, climbing walls, archery ranges, NASCAR shops and more add to the family entertainment.

Bass Pro Shops will offer free Outdoor Skills Workshops classes on a regular basis and will include topics like outdoor cooking, nature photography, fly fishing, camping, archery and more. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops has received more conservation awards than any other outdoors retailer.

About Bass Pro Shops
A major catalog and Internet retailer, Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield , MO , currently has 51 retail locations across the United States and Canada . The stores attract more than 100 million visitors a year. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. Request a free catalog by calling 1-800-BASS PRO.

Spring 2008

Business Appreciation Week:  May 11-17, 2008
Every May, the Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes the contributions that businesses of all sizes make to Virginia and the localities in which they operate. Business Appreciation Week will be May 11-17, 2008, and the state, towns, cities and counties will celebrate the impact that the business community has on the local economy.

Hanover County Economic Development will host its 9th Business Appreciation event:

Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Place: Creative Office, 11798 North Lakeridge Parkway
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

RSVP to Kaye Simpson at (804) 365-6464 or kosimpson@co.hanover.va.us

Governor Kaine Announces 85 New Jobs for hanover County
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announcedthat Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc. will invest $40.1 million to open a roastingfacility in the Town of Ashland in Hanover County , creating 85 jobs. The company will roast and package coffee for both retail and food service industries, as well as produce flavored coffee, organic coffee, fair trade coffee, infused coffee and iced and hot tea products. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee to Virginia ," said Governor Kaine. " Hanover County’s proximity to the company’s current customer base as well as the Commonwealth’s business climate both drove the company’s decision for Virginia . The value of the Port of Virginia in economic development was underscored as Mother Parkers plans to bring the bulk of its green coffee and raw tea through our port."

Established in 1912 and headquartered in ( Toronto ) Mississauga , Ontario , Canada , privately owned Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee has grown into a leading expert in traditional and specialty coffee, tea and complementary beverage solutions for the retail and food service industries. Mother Parkers’ operations have seen steady expansion over the decades with operations in ( Toronto ) Mississauga , Ontario and Fort Worth , Texas . Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc. employs approximately 450 people in its Canadian operations and 150 people in the United States .

"Mother Parkers is thrilled to open a Virginia facility," said Michael Higgins, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc. "In addition to the proximity of the Port of Virginia , the superior workforce in Hanover County and the business-friendly climate prevalent in the Commonwealth sealed the deal."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Hanover County Economic Development, the Town of Ashland and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia . Governor Kaine approved $200,000 from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Hanover County with the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

" Hanover County is proud to be the location of choice for Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, especially following such a thorough and competitive search for a location that would provide the perfect setting for a company of such quality," said Mr. Aubrey "Bucky" Stanley, Chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. "This new investment in our community represents a true partnership between Mother Parkers, the county and the Town of Ashland officials and staff. Both jurisdictions and the company made significant contributions to identify the perfect site, and create a unique, problem-solving team to ensure the perfect environment for this very unique building. Hanover County looks forward to Mother Parkers involvement in our community and more partnership opportunities with the Town of Ashland ."

 

Fall 2007

Hanover’s Spec Ops Mobilizes with National Guard for Wildfires in CA Spec Ops Inc., of Ashland, Virginia, mobilized with the National Guard Bureau Public Affairs Rapid Response Team (PARRT) in Arlington , VA to provide the command and control equipment used in the California National Guard Joint Information Center (JIC) during the recent wildfire incidents. With less than 24 hours notice, Spec Ops delivered to PARRT equipment from its facility in Ashland, VA for onsite operations at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. Spec Ops was also notified that its personnel may be required onsite for at least two weeks to assist the National Guard Bureau (NGB) and the California National Guard with its command and control requirements during emergency operations.
(full story)

Metropolitan Business League Small Buisness Boot Camp: October 17-19 2007

Spring 2007

Business Appreciation Week: May 13 - 19, 2007
Every May, the commonwealth of Virginia recognizes the contributions that businesses of all sizes make to Virginia and the localities in which they operate. Business Appreciation Week this year will be from May 13 - 19 and the state, towns, cities and counties will celebrate the impact that the business community has on the local economy.

For this celebration, Hanover county Economic Development will host it’s 8th Business Appreciation event this year with a "Picnic in the Garden" on Tuesday, May 15 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Hanover Memorial Regional Center in the Chapel Courtyard. RSVP to Kaye Simpson at (804) 365-6464 or kosimpson@co.hanover.va.us.

Pitney Bowes PSI Opens New Site in Ashland
April 12, 2007 - Pitney Bowes PSI, the nation’s largest mail presorter, today announced the opening of a new site in Ashland, Virginia. The site is the 33rd location in Pitney Bowes PSI’s national mail presort service network and will employ approximately 35 people. (full story)

Making the GRACRE Grade
Two Hanover Companies were recently recognized with the Greater Richmond Association of Commercial Real Estate (GRACRE) Project of the Year Award. The following is a reprint of an article originally published by Richmond.com that covers the event and the award-winning projects. Congratulations to Owens & Minor and Creative Office Environments, and we are grateful for their support and investment in Hanover County.
(full story)

Creative Office moves into new headquarters in Hanover’s Northlake Business Park
Creative, a local success story and a leading provider of interior furnishings and work tools for business, has moved into their newly-constructed headquarters and distribution facility in Hanover County. The 88,000 square foot facility is located in the Northlake Business Center at Lewistown Road and I-95, which will provide the company with convenient access to their multi-state network of clients.(full story )

 

Winter 2006

America’s Promise Alliance names Hanover County one of 100 Best Communities for Young People
In Partnership with Capital One, Competition Recognizes Outstanding, Innovative Efforts That Benefit Children and Youth America’s Promise €“ The Alliance for Youth is pleased to announce that Hanover County is a winner of a national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People.(full story )

 

Fall 2006

Bass Pro Shops coming to Hanover County .
Bass Pro Shops has announced plans to build an outdoor superstore at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Lewistown Road in Hanover County. It will anchor a 180 acre destination retail project being developed by Holladay Properties. The store may also include their famous Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. More information about the store and date of opening will be released in the near future. (full story)

Fitch Rating has upgraded Hanover county to a “AAA” bond rating
Hanover has become the smallest county by population in the United States to receive this distinction. Hanover County is one of only 32 county governments nationwide (out of more thatn 3,100 counties) to have achieved the ‘AAA’ bond rating from Fitch and the seventh in Virginia. (full story)

VCU-Sponsored Program for International Business Certificate
The VCU School of Business and Richmond-based co-sponsoring organizations are pleased to offer the 9th Annual International Business Certificate Program, beginning September 5th 2006 and ending November 21st 2006. (full story)

Fall 2005

Governor Warner Announces Newmarket Trading Group to Hanover
Governor Mark R. Warner announced on October 19 that Newmarket Trading Group, Ltd. will in vest $600,000 to open a facility in Hanover to handle the removal, recycling, and remarketing of aging personal computer (PC) assets, creating up to 100 new technician jobs within 30 months. Founded in 1999, and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Newmarket Trading Group specializes in IT asset recovery solutions.

"Newmarket Trading Group is the kind of business we want in Virginia", said Governor Warner. "Hanover County offers a central location, amble labor force, and the pro-business climate prevalentacross the Commonwealth. I congratulate Newmarket and Hanover County on this partnership."

"We are pleased with Newmarket’s expansion and investment in our community and are privileged to add this company to our growing list of corporate citizens that provide essential services in the technology industries," said J.T. (Jack) Ward, Chairman, Hanover County Board of Supervisors. (full story)

Summer 2005

Owens & Minor’s Distribution Center Grand Opening

Owens & Minor’s Richmond area warehouses have gone through three expansions over the past 27 years. As one of 43 leased distribution centers nationwide, the 114,000 sf warehouse will provide $143 million in sales of Owens & Minor’s $4.5 billion annual revenue, as it serves the Virginia region from Northern Virginia to North Carolina and Tidewater to the Piedmont.

Opened for about two months, after a move requiring 240 tractor-trailers, the distribution center in the Enterchange @ Northlake welcomed guests, officials and Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, on Monday June 27, 2005.

full story