51,250-square-foot, $25.5 million Center to enhance Southern Virginia’s advanced manufacturing field

(DANVILLE, Va.) – The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce plans to build a 51,250-square-foot Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) on the IALR campus. The innovative CMA will offer a platform for leading-edge business success specifically targeted at manufacturing companies establishing or expanding their presence in Southern Virginia.

“The skill sets and demand for advanced manufacturing labor are continuously growing alongside the endless evolution of technology,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “IALR has proudly championed the growth of this sector as one path toward regional economic transformation with the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining Technology; temporary, rapid-launch space for companies to use as they build, upgrade or occupy a permanent new facility; and economic development support to help attract new manufacturers to the area to benefit from the workforce pipeline and other regional assets of Southern Virginia. This new Center for Manufacturing Advancement will allow us to continue these activities on a larger scale and to promote business success in a collaborative, innovative setting.”

From WSET

DANVILLE—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that PRA Group, Inc., a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, will make a capital investment of $15.1 million to establish a new call center in the City of Danville. Virginia successfully competed with multiple states for the project, which will create 500 new jobs.

“PRA Group’s multi-million-dollar investment will harness Southern Virginia’s abundant talent in the corporate services industry by creating 500 new jobs, and bring a shuttered asset in the Airside Industrial Park back into productive use,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “PRA Group is a prime example of a home-grown Virginia business developing into a valued major employer in the Commonwealth, and we look forward to the company’s next chapter in the City of Danville.”

Founded in Norfolk, Virginia as Portfolio Recovery Associates, PRA Group, Inc. is now one of the nation’s largest debt recovery firms. By returning capital to banks and other creditors, the company helps to expand financial services for consumers in the Americas and Europe. PRA Group employs more than 2,000 in its Norfolk and Hampton facilities and 5,000 worldwide.

Essel Propack to invest $31.2 million to expand manufacturing facility

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Essel Propack, a global specialty packaging company serving the consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors, will invest $31.2 million to expand its manufacturing facility in the City of Danville. Virginia successfully competed with Brazil and Argentina for this project, which will create 45 new jobs.

“The City of Danville is a hub for applied research and technological innovation in the advanced manufacturing industry, and Essel Propack has been an important part of this ecosystem since its arrival in 2002,” said Governor Northam. “With access to the region’s pipeline of skilled talent and low operating costs, Essel Propack has flourished in Southern Virginia. We are proud to have a company of this caliber on our corporate roster, and look forward to the Essel Propack’s continued success in the Commonwealth.”

Essel Propack is a publicly-held company headquartered in Mumbai, India. Founded in 1982, the company produces a wide range of multilayer collapsible tubes and laminates used for packaging in personal care, food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Essel Propack employs over 2,850 employees worldwide, including 252 at its first and only U.S. manufacturing operation in the City of Danville. The expansion will allow the company to double production at the Danville facility through the introduction of new Super High-Output tubes (SHOT) technology.

Supply Resources and Lynchburg Public Warehouse are pleased to announce their expansion in the Lynchburg area market, with the acquisition of the Veritiv/xpedx (formerly Dillard Paper) distribution center in Lynchburg VA. SRI and LPW are under the common ownership of Rick Barker and are headquartered in Danville VA.

Supply Resources, is a packaging design, sourcing and distribution company serving customers in the industrial, retail and distribution sectors. Lynchburg Public Warehouse, is a complimenting warehouse-fulfillment company that provides logistics support for some of the region’s largest employers.

Lynchburg is a dynamic market with demanding third-party logistics (3PL) requirements from various regional industries. With today’s popular Just-In-time business philosophy, many companies need warehousing, inventory management, and local transportation to manage their lean manufacturing/distribution operations.

A United Kingdom-based manufacturer will invest $8 million to build a plant and bring 49 jobs to the Dan River Region over five years.

Harlow Group Ltd. will locate its first U.S. manufacturing plant in the Cyber Park in Danville. Founded in 1975 and based in Harlow, U.K., the company offers services ranging from product design to production of sheet metal products. Its customers include GE, Pitney Bowes, Raytheon, Sony, BF Goodrich and Lotus.

The company will build a 30,000-sqaure-foot facility and operate in Danville as Harlow Fastech. It will be in the Hawkins Building at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research during construction.

In addition, the company will establish a U.S. Training Center of Excellence, a new facility that will focus on additive manufacturing.

Governor Ralph Northam was in Danville Thursday where he announced that a manufacturing plant is investing $8 million to locate it first U.S. precision sheet metal fabrication plant in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County.

Harlow Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom-based company that will establish a U.S. Training Center of Excellence, a new facility with a focus on additive manufacturing, which will be located in the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority-owned Cyber Park.

Virginia successfully competed against Alabama for this project, which will create 49 new jobs.

Harlow Group to invest $8 million, create 49 jobs over five years

A new manufacturing facility is coming to Southside.

The Harlow Group will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Danville.

The $8 million investment will create 49 jobs over five years.

"Good paying jobs that I believe are about $20,000 higher than the average in this area. What tremendous news this is," Gov. Ralph Northam said, making the announcement at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville Thursday.

A UK-based manufacturer has chosen Danville for the site of its first U.S. plant, economic development officials announced Thursday.

Harlow Group Ltd., an advanced manufacturer of highly engineered assemblies, fabrications and precisions metal work services, will house its operation in the Danville Cyber Park. The company expects to invest $8 million to build the manufacturing plant and create 49 jobs, according to a news release.

Harlow Group, LTD will spend $8 million to expand its operations to Danville.

The company will construct a 30,000 square-foot facility in the Danville Cyberpark, employing 49 workers over the next 5 years.

Gov. Ralph Northam said the company will pay a wage that is “about $20,000 higher than the area average.” The company will pay an average annual wage of $55,000.