Fundraising materials manufacturer to expand in Bedford County

Innovairre Communications LLC, a manufacturer of direct-mail fundraising materials, will invest $4.85 million to add digital printing equipment and expand operations in Bedford County.

The project will create at least 12 jobs. In addition, 72 existing employees will be retrained to operate the new equipment with support from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). The company has operated in Bedford for 28 years.

Innovairre serves more than 500 charities with more than 4,000 employees on five continents. The company helps its customers raise more than $5 billion annually.

“This advanced press installation is going to be the biggest paradigm shift this site has ever seen,” Chad Stephenson, Innovairre’s senior vice president of operations, said in a statement. “Our employees are exceptionally well-suited to take on this challenge in Virginia.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Bedford and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to secure the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $65,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.

The company also will be eligible to receive sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support Innovairre’s employee retraining will be provided through VJIP. The Region 2000 Workforce Development Board also will assist Innovairre and other print industry companies to develop a pipeline of talent.