Big Deals: Virginia lands billions in new business investments

Anticipated to create at least 100 jobs apiece, these economic development announcements were some of the largest in Virginia in 2024 and 2025.

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

Goochland County: Washington-based retail giant Amazon.com announced plans in May to build its fourth Virginia robotics fulfillment center, which will involve a $500 million investment and is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs in Goochland County. Employees at the 3.1 million-square-foot facility will be assisted by advanced robotics in picking, packing and shipping small items to customers.

Prince George County: Danish toy maker Lego announced in May a $366 million investment in a new distribution center and warehouse in  Prince George County. The 2 million-square-foot facility in the county’s Crosspointe Business Centre site is expected to create 305 jobs and will complement Lego’s $1 billion toy factory under development in Chesterfield.

Albemarle County: Charlottesville-based Afton Scientific, manufacturer of sterile injectable pharmaceuticals, announced in October 2024 that it will invest more than $200 million to expand its biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Albemarle County. The project is expected to create 201 jobs that support the company’s work advancing critical, life-saving therapies and chronic disease treatments.

Richmond: In May, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches announced it’s investing $5.8 million to move to a new 29,000-square-foot location that will function as its corporate headquarters and production facility, with expectations of adding 166 jobs. Nightingale’s products are sold in more than 5,000 chain and independent groceries, including Whole Foods Market and Kroger.

EASTERN VIRGINIA

Chesapeake: Texas-based financial services company USAA announced in June it will expand into a larger space in Chesapeake, with plans to add more than 500 employees over the next two years. The building at 1341 Crossways Blvd. will span nearly 200,000 square feet and feature a claims technical training center, a cafeteria, a fitness center and market.

James City County: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, a Norwegian missile manufacturer, announced in September 2024 plans to build a 150,000-square-foot facility that it anticipates will create 180 jobs in James City County. In addition to investing $71 million to establish the facility, the company will also invest $30 million in necessities like engineering and software.

LYNCHBURG/ ROANOKE/ NEW RIVER VALLEY

Lynchburg: Lynchburg-based Delta Star, manufacturer of power transformers and mobile substations for the electrical grid, announced in April that it will invest $35 million to expand its Lynchburg operations. The company anticipates that the project — its second expansion in two years — will create 300 jobs.

Botetourt County: Swedish company Munters, maker of refrigeration and cooling equipment for the data center industry, announced in March that it will invest $29.95 million to expand its HVAC manufacturing facility in Botetourt County. The company anticipates that the 200,000-square-foot expansion project will create 270 jobs.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Fairfax County: Fairfax-based Unison, provider of AI-enabled software and insights to government agencies and others, relocated to Tysons Corner in Fairfax County from Loudoun County in September 2024. The new headquarters, which is designed to accommodate and nurture a hybrid workforce, is estimated to bring 283 jobs to Fairfax.

Arlington County: Technomics, a provider of data-and analytics-driven decision support services, announced in June it would invest $5.3 million to expand its operations in Arlington. The project, which will add 25,200 square feet of office space, is expected to create 248 jobs.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Frederick County: Wisconsin-based Clasen Quality Chocolate announced in February that it will invest $230 million to build a production facility in Frederick County that is expected to create
250 jobs. The facility is set to be the company’s fifth, in addition to locations in Wisconsin and Nevada. Clasen manufactures chocolate and confectionary coatings typically used by candy companies.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

Pittsylvania County: Tennessee-based Microporous, a manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separators for electric vehicles, broke ground in November 2024 on its $1.35 billion, 1 million-square-foot production facility at Pittsylvania County’s Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill. The project aims to create 2,015 jobs.

Pittsylvania County: United Kingdom company RBW Sports & Classics/Electric Cars, a manufacturer of hand-built electric classic sports cars, announced in August 2024 it would invest $8 million to establish a manufacturing facility expected to create 144 jobs at Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly owned by Danville and Pittsylvania County. The facility will manufacture RBW’s first left-hand-drive sports cars for the U.S. market.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

Carroll County: British company Oasthouse Ventures, maker of low-carbon greenhouses, announced in February it would invest $104.8 million to build a controlled-environment agriculture operation in Carroll, its first in the U.S. The operation is expected to support 118 jobs and aims to produce and package more 45 million pounds of tomatoes over the next three years for distribution to major retailers across the nation.

Washington County: Bristol-based Electro-Mechanical, a manufacturer of switchgear and other electrical elements, announced in October 2024 that it will invest $16.5 million to expand its operations in Washington County. The project will create the company’s sixth manufacturing plant, which will measure 200,000 square feet and is expected to generate 109 jobs.