CENTRO GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Center Drive. The home improvement retailer also operates an international distribution center in southern Freder- ick County.
The $12.2 million Mopar Parts
Distribution Center opened in Freder- ick County in late 2016, creating more than 70 jobs. Mopar is the service parts and customer-care brand for London- based Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The new facility handles the distribution of parts to more than 200 dealer- ships, primarily in the mid-Atlantic region. The facility is projected to ship approximately 9.2 million items annually.
Meanwhile, decking and railing
manufacturer Trex Co. Inc. expanded into two new warehouses in Frederick County last year. The first building measures
350,000 square feet and is the home of Trex University. Winchester-based Trex will use the 10,000-square-foot education center to teach distributors and contractors about the company’s history and its wood-alternative deck- ing products. Trex leased an additional 230,000 square feet in the same build- ing for prepackaged railing products that are ready for distribution across the country.
A second building, measur- ing 407,000 square feet, is entirely dedicated to receiving and handling of polyethylene plastics to be recycled. Trex recycles more than 400 million pounds of plastic and wood scrap each year.
In a statement, James Cline, presi- dent and CEO of Trex, said the new buildings, located next to Route 37 in the new 65-acre Blackburn Commerce Center, will allow the company “to meet the needs of our customers and pursue our growth objectives.” Construction is set to begin
this year on Phase II of Rutherford Crossing, a Frederick County retail center off Interstate 81 near the West Virginia line. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., Valley Health Urgent Care and a national grocery store chain
Photo by Mark Rhodes
300 jobs Region’s largest deal in terms of jobs in 2016
invested $17 million last year in a new production line at its Stuarts Draft plant. The company has been produc- ing chocolate and confectionery prod- ucts in Augusta County since 1982. Last year was also a good year for
rural Bath County, which announced its first economic development project since 2003. Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, a
are set to join the mix, according to developer NVRetail. The first phase of Rutherford
Crossing included Party City, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Texas Roadhouse, Lowe’s, Target and PetSmart.
The central and southern valley
also had reason to celebrate in 2016. According to the Shenandoah Val- ley Partnership, a regional economic development organization, companies announced 344 new jobs and more than $282 million in private invest- ment in the region last year. MillerCoors is expanding its
brewery in Rockingham County, south of Elkton, to increase capacity. The $60 million investment is expected to create 27 jobs. The project marks the second major upgrade of the facility in the past decade. A $300 million build- out in 2007 made the plant one of the most modern large-scale breweries in North America. Jon Stern, MillerCoors’ director
of media relations, said the latest expansion will allow the company to deliver beer to Northeast markets. The plant, which has more than 500 employees, produces Coors Light, Blue Moon Belgian White, Keystone and Keystone Light. In March, New Jersey-based
Merck, a global pharmaceutical company, announced a $168 million expansion of its manufacturing facility near Elkton. Merck will upgrade plant infrastructure, adding manufacturing facilities and equipment. Merck began operations in Elkton in 1941. Meanwhile, The Hershey Co.
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Scottish company, has chosen Bath for its new stave mill, which will process hardwood used in the production of bourbon barrels. The company is investing $5 million to create a pro- duction facility in an industrial park in the town of Millboro, creating 30 jobs. In another boon for economic
development, two of the valley’s regional airports announced major upgrades in 2016. Winchester Regional Airport is expanding as a result of $1.5 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport plans to construct 11 hangars on undeveloped land north of the runway and east of the Public Safety Building on Cov- erstone Drive to accommodate future airport development and growth. Shenandoah Valley Regional
Airport in Weyers Cave has partnered with ViaAir to offer daily nonstop ser- vice to Charlotte, N.C., and one-stop service to Orlando/Sanford, Fla. Both routes will utilize a 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet. It marks the first time the Shenandoah Valley has had a partner airline offering daily commer- cial flights with a jet aircraft. Greg Campbell, the airport’s
executive director, said the new service should be an attractive option for both business and leisure travelers. The Charlotte hub is ranked fifth in the nation with approximately 710 daily departures, and Orlando is a popular spot for vacations and conferences. “We are very pleased with this change in hub and the dramatic increase in connecting opportunities it will give our community,” Campbell said.
VIRGINIA BUSINESS 41
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