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Nov. 4 2011
Specialty Coating & Laminating in Hanover Acquires New Division
(Hanover, VA): Barricade Building Products, a division of Specialty Coating & Laminating, LLC of Doswell, Virginia, completed the acquisition of Berry Plastics' housewrap division on November 1, 2011. The company expects to add 15-20 new jobs by March 2012, and anticipates that the building products division will expand significantly in the future with the addition of new products for their customers.
View the press release in its entirety
Sept. 2011
Business First Hanover 2010-2011 Annual Report now available
Business First Hanover is the local business assistance program aimed at supporting local companies and ensuring that they are provided every opportunity to grow right here in Hanover County. The business retention and expansion program is part of a regional collaborative effort that includes the Greater Richmond Partnership, the City of Richmond, and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.
As part of the local business outreach effort, the Business First team conducts face-to-face interviews with business owners and CEOs. Information gathered during these interviews helps to identify opportunities and threats as well as direct resources and information to businesses in need.
Please take the time to read the 2010-2011 Annual Report of Hanover County's Business First Program. The data collected provides a snapshot of how the business climate is perceived by the local business community. The information contained in this report is based on interviews conducted between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 by a combination of professional staff and trained volunteers -- members of the Hanover County business community.
Spring 2011
Hanover County Economic Development
Hires New Business Services Coordinator
The Hanover County Department of Economic Development has hired Tommy Miller as the Business Services Coordinator. Miller’s primary responsibilities will include leading the Business First program, which is a business intelligence effort that focuses on identifying trends and issues for the growth and retention of companies in Hanover County.
Click here to read more 
Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator Announces New Interim Executive Director
The Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator announced today the appointment of William H. Daughtrey as interim Executive Director. David Lohr will step down from his post effective March 3, 2011, to take a new opportunity as President and Executive Director of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Click here to read more
Commitment to Community Award for Hanover Businesses
The Hanover County Board Supervisors have a time-honored tradition of recognizing outstanding volunteer service with an annual celebration event, the Spirit of Volunteerism Awards, which pays tribute to outstanding Hanover County residents, individuals, groups and local businesses whose volunteer service activities benefit the citizens of Hanover County.
The Commitment to Community Award is a category that recognizes businesses that exemplify strong community values and a sustained commitment to supporting the community. The theme of the Spirit of Volunteerism award: “honors a Hanover County business that exemplifies strong community values and a sustained commitment to supporting the community”. All nominated businesses will receive a certificate of recognition and will be introduced at the Spirit of Volunteerism Celebration, and one business will honored as the overall winner of the 2011 award.
Hanover's Spirit of Volunteerism Awards
Click for nomination details!
Deadline March 1st
Winter 2010
Hanover County named a "Top Place to Raise Children" by Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Bloomberg BusinessWeek recently names Ashland as the "Best Place to Raise Children" in Virginia. Mechanicsville, another Hanover community, was named the runner-up for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Click here to read more
Fall 2010
BusinessFirst Program Recognized by Virginia Chamber
The Torchbearer Award for the Seventh Congressional District from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce was awarded to the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. with the City of Richmond and counties of Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield for BusinessFirst Greater Richmond , a business retention and expansion program.
The Torchbearer Award was presented at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Economic Summit, “Preparing for a Brighter Future,” held on Dec. 2, 2010 in Williamsburg at the Kingsmill Resort. The Awards showcased the accomplishments and outstanding contributions that best exemplify the excellence that has made the Commonwealth the number one state in the nation for business.
“It is such an honor to have BusinessFirst Greater Richmond recognized by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The team is committed to our region's existing businesses and to ensuring they get the support they need for success.” said Gregory H. Wingfield, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. Sara Dunnigan , senior vice president and BusinessFirst program manager added, “BusinessFirst is a true regional public-private initiative. It has supported the creation of 1,119 new jobs, the retention of 2,496 and more than $213 million in new capital investment since launching in the fall of 2006.”
BusinessFirst Greater Richmond was one of the first communities in Virginia to adopt a smart web-based data platform developed exclusively for economic development. Since then, the Commonwealth has endorsed the same platform and supported the expansion of its use to other communities.
Companies interviewed through the BusinessFirst program represent more than 98,000 jobs in the region. Since 2006, the program has helped to identify more than 600 firms with plans to create 6,000 new jobs. The outreach has also brought focus to more than 400 companies with plans to expand – representing opportunities with more than $265 million in planned new capital investment.
BusinessFirst Greater Richmond is the business retention and expansion program supported by the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc., in collaboration with the economic development offices of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and the City of Richmond. It is also supported by more than 80 business volunteers and other agencies in the region committed to the growth and retention of area businesses.
Hanover Launches Updated Site Selection Web Service
Hanover County Economic Development has recently launched a new version of Site Logistics, a GIS based site selection web service. This updated version of the website is based on the ESRI Flex API and utilizes ArcGIS Server and the Business Analyst Online API. It allows map functionality such as zoom in, zoom out, and pan- users can now change the base map from street, satellite and topographic view. With this updated version users now have:
-Multiple, faster reporting options with the incorporation of Business Analyst Online data
-Improved ESRI data source. ESRI employs demographers to work with data vendors to source the best, newest information
-Site redesigned to help users easily find what they need
-Ability to run reports and locate businesses around any location in the County
For more information on this service please contact Matt McLaren, Marketing Analyst, at 804-365-6461 or email.
Summer 2010
Specialty Coating and Laminating, LLC Purchases Manufacturing Facility in Doswell
Specialty Coating & Laminating, LLC (SC&L), has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the real estate and production equipment of Covalence Specialty Coatings, LLC's (Covalence) manufacturing facility in Doswell, Virginia. SC&L, founded by the Richmond, Virginia-based investment banking firm Smither & Company and led by Chief Executive Officer Geoff Baldwin, is a manufacturer of poly extrusion and aqueous coated paper and paperboard products, primarily for the flexible packaging, food-service and paper industries. Products produced by SC&L include poly-laminated roll wrap, functional coatings on paperboard such as oil and grease resistance, water resistance or anti-skid, extrusion coatings and laminates, coated woven and non-woven synthetic reinforcements, and many other flexible packaging and food service packaging products.
The asset acquisition has directly resulted in saving 30 jobs in Hanover County while preserving the on-going manufacturing operation and resultant tax base for the County of Hanover. Specialty Coating & Laminating's manufacturing facilities total in excess of 250,000 square feet over 18 acres. With a unique set of manufacturing capabilities and an experienced management team and employee base that includes many former employees of the Covalence facility, SC&L is able to provide high performance products and outstanding service at competitive costs.
SC&L is one of the only facilities in the world that has both extrusion coating & laminating and aqueous coating in one plant. This fact, combined with the ability to process extra wide (up to 136") product widths, makes SC&L uniquely suited to handle many projects that would normally require more than one manufacturer. The new company also has a heavy emphasis on product development and technical support, with an experienced management team with proven success in product innovation.
“The acquisition of the former Covalence Specialty Coatings facility is a win-win situation for Hanover County and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Aubrey M. Stanley, Beaverdam District's representative on the Hanover Board of Supervisors. “The project saves 30 jobs, and the company plans to add nearly 70 more jobs over the next three years.”
“Specialty Coating & Laminating's ability to work collaboratively with Covalence and the County of Hanover to structure and complete the acquisition creates a great opportunity for everyone, including many experienced and loyal employees who have worked in this facility for many years,” stated Ken Smither, Chairman of SC&L and the President of Smither & Company. “Further, we were able to attract a proven executive management team with substantial experience not only in the industry but in our Doswell manufacturing facility. Without the involvement of Geoff Baldwin (CEO), Bill Berry (CFO) and Rick Ganzert (Plant Engineer), we would not have been successful in completing this acquisition.”
SC&L will also receive workforce training services from the Virginia Department of Business Assistance's Virginia Jobs and Investment Program.
For more information on SC&L, see their website at: www.specoat.com
Hanover Business Leader Wins Small Business Recognition
John D. Fernandez , President and CEO of Daystar Desserts LLC, has been selected as Virginia's Small Business Person of the Year 2010 by the Small Business Administration.
In announcing the selection, SBA Richmond District Director Ronald E. Bew said, “ The SBA is proud to honor John Fernandez as he represents the finest traits in American entrepreneurial spirit. His dedication, technical expertise, strong leadership and management have led to great success for Daystar Desserts. ”
Mr. Fernandez was recognized in May in Washington, D.C. during the SBA's National Small Business Week ceremonies along with other state winners from across the United States. Events in Washington will include a luncheon honoring state small business winners from across the nation where the National Small Business Person of the Year will be announced. He was formally presented with his Virginia award at the Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond June 3rd. The event also highlighted several Virginia small business champions.
John and a former partner formed Daystar Desserts in 1998, combining their talents in an effort to create brilliant desserts of the utmost quality accompanied by outstanding service to the customer. They started by baking these desserts in John ' s mother ' s kitchen on Long Island using freezers in her garage to store their product. At times working 36 hours straight, they did everything from baking to selling and even hand-delivering their creations. Thanks to their hard work and dedication the business grew to become one of the most respected upscale dessert suppliers in the nation. In 2004 Daystar Desserts acquired World ' s Best Cheesecake in Ashland, Virginia, becoming one company with a great variety and plenty of production capacity.
In the past three years Daystar has gone from delivering products to six states to delivering to 38 states, tripling their work force in the process. As a result of the downturn in the economy, Daystar launched a new, smaller-sized cheesecake product line at a lower price with a more “ home-style ” look to them. This created a shift for their consumers. Instead of feeling guilty about buying a “ fancy ” dessert, they viewed the desserts as an inexpensive indulgence or a “ comfort food ” during a time of high anxiety. This innovative thinking won Daystar one of the largest cheesecake contracts in the nation.
Other Hanover business leaders have been honored with SBA awards in the past. Last year at the 2009 event, Tinh Phan, Chairman, Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce and CEO of PNC in Ashland, won the Virginia and Region III Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
The SBA, founded in 1953 by the U.S. Congress, is a champion for small businesses. SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build viable businesses that create the jobs that strengthen communities.
Spring 2010
Hanover Firm Recognized with Technology Award
RichTech announced the 2010 Technology Stars Award Winners at their fifteenth annual awards gala which was held on May 11, and congratulated the entire Richmond Technology community on their successes over the last year.
Hanover-based Owens and Minor was recognized with The CSC Leasing Technology Innovation: Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail Award which is presented to a company or organization whose use of new or existing technology in manufacturing, distribution and/or retail that creates or significantly enhances new processes, methodologies and/or services for their or others benefit.
Hanover County Receives 3rd AAA Bond Rating from Moody's
Moody's Financial Service, one of the three major municipal bond ratings agencies in the U.S., has upgraded Hanover County to a AAA rating, the highest possible. Hanover was already rated AAA by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's, making Hanover County one of a small number of county governments nationwide with 'Triple-AAA' bond ratings. "This is a great day for Hanover County," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Ed Via. "There is a very short list of counties our size that have been able to achieve two AAA bond ratings, let alone three. I think it testifies to the fact that we have been very conservative with the taxpayers' money and very sound with all of our financial policies."
Dominion GreenTech Incubator's First Tenants Profiled
Local business journal, Richmond BizSense, highlights Hanover's GreenTech Incubator with a story on the first tenants using grean, clean technology.
Click here to read more
Winter 2009
Forbes Magazine Ranks Hanover as a "Top Place to Get Ahead"
Hanover continues to make national "Best Places" lists as Forbes has recognized Hanover County as one of the "Best Places to Get Ahead." Citing job and income growth, Hanover tied with the Minneapolis suburb of Carver County, Minnesota for 10th place on this prestigious list. With 3.5% job growth and steady employment numbers, Hanover County has once again ranked among the top places in the Country to live and do business!
Click here to read more
Hanover Foils Announces Opening
Former
Reynolds Packaging Co. employees saw a need for their company to continue even after they were shut down so they are opening a new facility in Hanover County.
Click here to read more
Dominion GreenTech Incubator Announced
The Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator (DRGI), a center to assist new businesses focused on energy efficiency and other clean and green technologies, is open for business in Ashland, Va., with financial support from Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation ' s largest producers of energy.
Modeled after other successful technology incubators, DRGI will provide assistance with research, financial services, business planning and other issues as well as office space for start-up companies. As the companies grow, they are expected to move to nearby locations, boosting the local economy.
In addition to Dominion, founding members of the new incubator include Hanover County, Va., the Town of Ashland and the Virginia Biosciences Development Center (VBDC) of Richmond, Va., which will manage the incubator. The creation of the incubator was announced at a meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors last fall.
"Dominion is excited to have a role in encouraging the growth of the clean and green technology movement in Virginia," said Mary C. Doswell, senior vice president-Alternative Energy Solutions for Dominion. "It will take creative minds to find new, clean technologies that will help our state and nation become more energy efficient. Those minds now will have a place in Central Virginia to test their ideas, get assistance and be launched toward success."
"The Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park, which manages the VBDC, has developed a nationally recognized incubator program that employs all of the components normally recognized as necessary to successfully incubate technology-based companies under the direction of David R. Lohr, a former chairman of the National Business Incubation Association," said Robert T. Skunda, president and chief executive officer of the bio-technology research park. Skunda will be the chairman, president and corporate secretary of DRGI. "We will be exporting this program to Hanover County and the new incubator in partnership with Dominion, and see the potential for significant success in growing the number of companies engaged in ' green and clean ' technology innovation in the Greater Richmond area."
"Creating new jobs and companies in Hanover County through a business incubator has been part of the county ' s economic development strategic plan for some time," said Rhu C. Harris, Hanover County administrator. "The opportunity for the county and the Town of Ashland to partner with Dominion and the Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park to create jobs in the green technology areas is exciting and one we are confident will produce excellent results over the long term."
Dominion is one of the nation ' s largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation, 1.1 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas and oil reserves, 14,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates the nation ' s largest natural gas storage systems with 975 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company ' s Web site at www.dom.com
DRGI is located in the Presidential I business park in Ashland, and the first four tenants have been accepted and will start up their companies over the next few weeks.
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. 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 here 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 OpeningOwens & 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.
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