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Published: 12 June 2014

Company to invest $346.7 million and create 90 new jobs

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Microsoft Corp. will invest $346.7 million to expand its data center site in Mecklenburg County and increase capacity to serve its growing customer base. Virginia successfully competed against other sites in the U.S. for the project, which will create 90 new jobs. Microsoft’s original project in 2010 involved an investment of up to $499 million and 50 new jobs. In 2011 the company invested an additional $150 million to expand the site, and in 2013 announced a $348 million expansion.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Microsoft’s data center campus in Mecklenburg County continues to represent transformational growth, opportunity, and investment for the region and for Virginia. The third expansion project brings the company’s total capital investment to more than $1.3 billion since 2010. Microsoft’s success and continued investment is a powerful testament to the benefits of doing business in Virginia and the thriving data center industry in the Commonwealth.”

“Microsoft has played an important role in the success of Mecklenburg County and Southern Virginia since the establishment of its data center site in 2010,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The company continues to grow its operation, and this significant expansion is another example of state partners working together to meet a corporation’s needs within a short timeframe. As Microsoft’s customer base expands, we remain ready to help facilitate its success any way we can. We thank the company for its continued commitment and investment in Virginia.”

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Published: 28 May 2014

Dr. Alfred A. Roberts, of Emporia, has been named the new president of Southside Virginia Community College, taking over for retiring president Dr. John Cavan.

Roberts will begin around Aug. 1.

“I’ve known Al for a long time and I have observed his leadership at SVCC for many years,” Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, said. “I’m confident he will do a terrific job in taking the college to the next level.”

Roberts is currently provost of SVCC’s Christanna Campus in Alberta, a position he has held since 2012. He served as provost of the John H. Daniel Campus of SVCC, in Keysville, from 2010-12. Prior to that, he was vice president of workforce services at SVCC. His career at SVCC began in 1995 when he assumed the role of administrator for student support services.

“The Southside Virginia Community College Board unanimously supports Dr. Roberts as our next president,” said Dr. Charlette T. Woolridge, acting chair of the College Board. “We are very pleased and excited to have a solid and experienced new president with proven leadership, expertise to advance educational and workforce development programs to prepare students for the 21st century economy, a commitment to working with the Southside Virginia community and leaders to strengthen our economy, and more. We look forward to his leadership in our region.”

“We set a high standard and spent many hours in our search, with input from stakeholders at the state and local levels,” said Dr. Nancy Carwile, College Board member and former chair. “In all areas, Dr. Roberts was first among well-qualified candidates. Our hearts were in this process and Dr. Roberts' heart is also in this work as SVCC moves forward.”

Roberts says the presidency is “a great opportunity for me to give back to the community that has done so much for me.”

“I have a real commitment to a high level of community engagement; to quality academic programs; and to workforce training and development,” he said. “It will be a challenge to follow in Dr. Cavan’s footsteps, but also a tremendous opportunity to advance the mission of the college and enhance its reputation as a world class, 21st century community college.”

Before joining SVCC, Roberts was program director for Sussex-Greensville-Emporia Adult Activity Services and also taught radio and television production classes at Norfolk State University.

He received his doctorate from Old Dominion University, his master’s from Virginia State University and his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.

The longest serving president in the VCCS, Cavan has presided over SVCC since 1983.

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Published: 09 May 2014

After reviewing over 70 properties, the Obama administration announced in April 2014 its decision to locate the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) at Fort Pickett in Nottoway County, VA. More information about the project follows:

Currently, diplomatic security training is conducted at a number of diffuse, leased and contracted facilities nationwide. A May 2008 report to Congress identified the need for a consolidated facility to improve training efficiency, decrease operating costs, and provide priority access to training venues which meet current facility standards.

To achieve these goals, the U.S. Department of State is establishing the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC). The Department has invested considerable time and effort over the years in reviewing over 70 properties with the U.S. General Services Administration, including the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, before identifying 1,500 acres of publicly-owned land within Fort Pickett, Virginia. Over the last two years, the U.S. Department of State has worked extensively to conduct environmental studies at Fort Pickett, begin negotiations for land use agreements, secure community support and ultimately reassess and reduce the scope of the FASTC project. The cost for a hard-skills exclusive facility at Fort Pickett, as verified by an independent construction cost estimator, is estimated to be $461 million. Some funding has already been appropriated, and the Department continues to look for opportunities to further reduce these costs.

This facility will be dedicated to providing consolidated hard skills security and life saving training to the foreign affairs community. This training develops the practical skills necessary to operate in today’s overseas environment. Hard skills training allows the foreign affairs community to learn how to detect surveillance, provide emergency medical care, increase identification skills to recognize improvised explosive devices (IED), participate in firearms familiarization, and perform defensive/counterterrorist driving maneuvers. Such training improves security and life safety for the protection of U.S. personnel operating abroad.

Diplomatic security training is conducted at a number of diffuse, leased and contracted facilities nationwide. A May 2008 report to Congress identified the need for a consolidated facility to improve training efficiency, decrease operating costs, and provide priority access to training venues which meet current facility standards. The creation of FASTC will allow for the consolidation of ten of the current eleven leased or use fee facilities the Department utilizes for hard skills training.

from the US Department of State website

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Published: 29 April 2014

The Corsi Group to invest approximately $5 million in first Virginia manufacturing operation

KEYSVILLE - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that The Corsi Group, a leading manufacturer of custom and semi-custom cabinetry, will invest approximately $5 million to establish its first Virginia manufacturing operation in Charlotte County. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky for the project, which will create 110 new jobs.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “The addition of more than 100 new jobs is significant news for Charlotte County as it continues to rebound economically.  As The Corsi Group expands its footprint and establishes its first manufacturing operation in Virginia, we celebrate a new corporate partner in a region that offers a robust, skilled workforce and improved cost competitiveness to the company’s expanding customer base. This new manufacturing operation will complement the existing industry base in Southern Virginia well, and we look forward to the mutual benefit and success for Charlotte County and Corsi.”

“We welcome The Corsi Group to Virginia and Charlotte County,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Advanced manufacturing is a thriving industry in the Commonwealth, and Corsi joins an impressive roster of manufacturers that have invested more than $13.7 billion in Virginia over the last 10 years. We are confident that the company will benefit from the business friendly environment in Charlotte County and the Southern Virginia region.”

Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Corsi Group was founded in 1973 as a designer and manufacturer of custom cabinetry, and today has completed more than 50,000 projects.

“We are confident in our choice of Charlotte County as our best for quality labor, a business-friendly governmental environment, and area supporting companies with whom we will work,” said Pat Corsi, Founder and Chairman and CEO of The Corsi Group. “We plan to continue our past practices of community involvement to add local value beyond the jobs we will be creating.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Charlotte County and Virginia’s Growth Alliance to help secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Charlotte County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $375,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company may be eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity will provide funding and services to support the company’s training activities.

"The Corsi Group's reputation precedes itself, and Charlotte County and its Industrial Development Authority are extremely appreciative of their decision to locate the company's third U.S. manufacturing facility to our County,” said Dr. Nancy Carwile, Chairman, Charlotte County Board of Supervisors. "We are excited and pleased with the faith they have shown in Charlotte County's workforce and the employment opportunities that Corsi will provide for our citizens. We look forward to working with the company."

"The Virginia Tobacco Commission is extremely proud to welcome the Corsi Group to Charlotte County, and we look forward to the many benefits that Corsi will provide the citizens through good jobs and their community involvement,” said Gary D. Walker, Commissioner, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “This announcement could not come at a better time for our people and the future of our county."

“This is such an exciting day for Charlotte County and the entire region. Hiring more than 100 people will impact many of the communities that make up the region. We hope this is just the start of many announcements as we work together to fill the Heartland Business Park. I think that the future is very bright for the entire region and we are impressed that Jeff has achieved this success for our group in such a short period of time,” said Susan Adams, Deputy Charlotte County Administrator. “His energy and excitement has ignited the entire group.”

“This is a tremendous success that we have announced today on behalf of our regional marketing organization. For our first announcement to be one with the reputation and standing of the Corsi Group is indeed a huge coup for VGA. I cannot stress enough all the heavy lifting that was done by Charlotte County and our allies to make this a reality,” said Jeff Reed, Executive Director of Virginia’s Growth Alliance (VGA).

Charlotte County is one of eleven jurisdictions that make up Virginia’s Growth Alliance, a regional economic development agency.