Three foreign companies pleased with the success in Virginia.April 24, 2009 SUFFOLK VA NEWS -- Owens-Illinois, Inc. (O-I), a manufacturer of glass containers for food, beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages, will invest $20 million to upgrade equipment at its manufacturing plant in James City County. The facility improvements, will be made possible through public-private collaboration, within the next 12 to 24 months and will enhance the energy efficiencies and technological capabilities of the plant. The company employs 180 people at the James City County plant. O-I is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, and was established in 1903. O-I employs more than 23,000 people with 80 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries. O-I holds the leading position in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America, providing 100-percent recyclable glass containers. O-I's James City County plant opened on February 29, 1980, in Hankins Industrial Park in the County's Stonehouse District of the James County, and is celebrating 30 years of operations in Virginia. The manager of the James City County plant, Charles Cochrane said, "We want to thank the Commonwealth of Virginia and James City County's economic development team for their assistance. Their combined support and our positive experience in Virginia will help us keep our Toano plant one of O-I's more cost-efficient facilities. These investments also will help us be more competitive." The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with James City County to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance for O-I's 180-member workforce through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The funds will be used to retrain existing employees on the new, upgraded equipment. Virginia Governor Kaine said, "O-I is seizing the opportunity to make the James City County plant stronger and more competitive, which will help keep quality manufacturing jobs in James City County. Together, we are working to keep jobs in the region and the Commonwealth during this challenging economic time. As the largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world, Virginia is proud to boast this corporate partner." Meanwhile, on April 21, 2009, Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine concluded three days of meetings with business and government leaders in Israel. Governor Kaine and First Lady Anne Holton are visiting as guests of the Israeli government to promote Virginia to business and government leaders. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk is also traveling with Governor Kaine. Focusing on the manufacturing and life science industries, Governor Kaine met with executives from Oran Safety Glass (OSG), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Strauss Group, three Israeli companies operating facilities in Virginia. Governor Kaine said: "All three companies are pleased with the success they are experiencing in the Commonwealth. In fact, at our meeting, Teva Pharmaceuticals announced that its Bedford County plant has been designated as a strategic facility for the company, a key indicator of Teva's confidence in its Virginia operation." In December 2008, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries acquired Barr Pharmaceuticals, parent company of Barr Laboratories, which has operated in Bedford County, VA, since 1996. In January 2008 Barr Laboratories invested $62 million to add production and packaging capacity at its Bedford County facility. Teva is among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and among the largest generic pharmaceutical companies in the world. In May 2008, OSG, Israel's leading flat and curved glass processing company invested $2.65 million to expand its Greensville County, VA facility. The Greensville County facility, the company's first U.S. operation, supplies bullet-proof glass for U.S. military vehicles. (My kind of company!) Strauss Group, Israel's second largest food and beverage Group, has over the last few years become an international corporation with a steadily growing part of its business conducted outside of Israel. The Group employs more than 11,000 people and operates in 19 countries. Sabra Dipping Company, an U.S./Canadian joint venture between Strauss Group and PepsiCo, announced in November 2008 its plans to open a food manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, creating 260 jobs. The Virginia Governor hosted more than 50 business executives at the two roundtables during this three days of meetings. Two companies, Green Vision and MaxTech, both located in Tel Aviv, announced the opening of new marketing operations in Virginia targeting federal and commercial markets. Finally, we salute those companies listed above for investing in Virginia and remind skilled labor seeking employment within Virginia should note these companies will have up and coming job opportunities within the future. # # # |
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