Tazewell metal manufacturer to create 40 jobs in expansion

No comment yet from Ozzy Osbourne or AC/DC, but Tazewell County-based heavy metal manufacturer Lawrence Brothers Inc. is set to expand, creating 40 jobs with a $3.2 million investment, the governor’s office announced Thursday.

The family-owned company plans to upgrade and modernize its equipment at the Lawrence Road facility, which will double production, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a news release. Lawrence Brothers, founded in Bluefield in 1974, currently employs about 70 people and fabricates battery trays and manufactures motive power trays, ground support systems and transformer components used in the mining industry as well as other sectors. Clients include General Electric and JOY/Komatsu.

“We are dedicated to providing a skilled manufacturing workforce so Virginia companies like Lawrence Brothers can continue contributing to the growth of this important sector,” Northam said in a statement. “Supporting existing businesses as they adapt and modernize is key to maintaining a strong and resilient economy as we rebound from the pandemic, and we appreciate the company’s commitment to Tazewell County and our commonwealth.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) collaborated with Tazewell County, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority and the Cumberland Plateau Planning District in securing the project for Virginia. Lawrence Brothers is eligible for state benefits through the Enterprise Zone Job Creation Grant administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, and VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program will support training and recruitment at no cost to the company. VCEDA provided a $400,000 loan to the business to help it purchase equipment, and the planning district made a $250,000 loan.

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