Blue Ridge Designs LLC invests $2M to expand Southwest Va. operations

Carroll County-based screen-printed apparel manufacturer Blue Ridge Designs LLC will invest $2.28 million to expand its operations, creating 118 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. 

Blue Ridge Designs was established in January 2019 and manufactures screen-printed apparel with watercolor ink. Since January 2019, the company has purchased six presses and three dryers, hired 80 employees and printed almost 3 million shirts.

“Blue Ridge Designs has quickly become an important contributor to Virginia’s manufacturing sector,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said in a statement. “Supporting 21st-century manufacturers is a key component of our efforts to promote economic development in all regions of the commonwealth.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Carroll County to secure the project for Virginia and will support the company’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). The program, which is state-funded, supports companies’ recruitment and training. 

“Blue Ridge Designs is a new manufacturer that has experienced exponential growth since its founding, and continues to create valuable jobs in Carroll County,” Northam said in a statement. “We thank Blue Ridge Designs for its commitment to southwestern Virginia and look forward to the company’s future success.”