Veronica Garabelli// April 30, 2014//
TORC Robotics LLC in Blacksburg is planning to move to a $2.5 million research facility at Blacksburg Industrial Park by the end of the year. The expansion is expected to create eight jobs.
The company is a provider of unmanned systems, vehicle automation and robotics. Founded in 2005, TORC delivers solutions for the military, mining, agriculture, and automotive industries. TORC currently leases 6,500 square feet at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) and 1,900 square feet of garage space outside of the center. The new space will allow TORC, which currently employs about 33 people, to have its working space under one roof, says Janette D. Brown, a spokesperson for TORC.
The Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County will construct a 20,000-square-foot facility in Phase V of the Blacksburg Industrial Park. TORC will lease 16,000 square feet of the building, with the option to purchase the property in year five of the agreement. The authority will rent out the remaining 4,000 square feet to another tenant