On Monday, Porter’s Group LLC announced plans to establish its first Virginia operation in the City of Lynchburg through a $1.8 million investment, creating 120 new jobs.

Porter’s Group manufactures fabricated metal products, and its advanced capabilities allow it to produce a broad range of products from ATMs to engine parts.

The company plans to purchase an existing manufacturing facility from one of its customers, Diebold Inc., allowing it to quickly transition the plant for its specific production needs. The talented manufacturing workforce already in place in the Lynchburg region will also aid in the company’s quick ramp-up to production.

In addition to a turnkey building and ready workforce, Lynchburg offers a prime location that geographically aligns the company’s operations with its existing customer base. 

Located near I-81, Lynchburg provides convenient access to Virginia’s premier transportation network, which includes six interstate highways, nine commercial airports, 14 railroads, including two Class I lines, and the international Port of Virginia. 

Leading manufacturing companies continue to select the Commonwealth due to its competitive cost environment, strategic location and highly-skilled workforce. To learn why manufacturing companies have invested more than $13.7 billion in Virginia over the last decade, click here.

This week, McKesson Corp. announced its third distribution center in the Commonwealth. The Frederick County project is expected to bring a $36.9 million investment and 205 new jobs to the region.

Ranked No. 14 on the Fortune 500, McKesson is the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in North America, delivering one-third of the medicines used each day.

The company plans to establish a 450,000-square-foot, build-to-suit distribution center in Frederick County for its Medical-Surgical business unit. Henrico County is already home to McKesson’s Medical-Surgical divisional headquarters as well as a distribution center.

This announcement is a strong follow-up to a project completed earlier this year. In April, McKesson celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art distribution center in Caroline County. 

McKesson continues to choose Virginia for its strategic location and proximity to customers along the East Coast. With six major highways and the third largest state-maintained transportation network in the country, Virginia allows companies to improve their supply chain efficiency.

Over the last 10 years, global logistics companies have announced more than 360 projects in Virginia, totaling more than $1.6 billion in capital investment. To learn more about Virginia’s world-class logistics infrastructure, click here.

On Friday, Backcountry.com celebrated the opening of its East Coast fulfillment center in Montgomery County, less than a year after the company announced it would invest $20 million and create 200 new jobs. 

Secretary Cheng attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, congratulating the company on its swift progress preparing the facility at Falling Branch Corporate Park.

As the largest online specialty retailer of premium outdoor gear, Backcountry.com is known for its fast delivery times and selected the Commonwealth for its strategic East Coast location and world-class logistics network. With 14 railroads, six major interstate highways, 9 commercial airports and the international Port of Virginia, the Commonwealth offers easy access to customers on the East Coast and beyond. 

To maintain its reputation for excellent customer service, locating near a skilled workforce was critical to Backcountry.com. With its close proximity to the Appalachian Trail and Washington-Jefferson National Forest, Montgomery County caters to outdoor enthusiasts, drawing a talented and passionate labor pool closely aligned with the company’s mission.

Virginia continues to be a leading location for fulfillment and distribution centers—Ace Hardware, Amazon.com, Home Depot, McKesson Corp, QVC, Target and Wal-Mart have all established operations in the Commonwealth.

Over the last ten years global logistics companies have announced more than 360 projects, totaling more than $1.6 billion in capital investment. To learn more about Virginia’s premier location and logistics infrastructure, click here.

Secretary Cheng (left) joins company and local officials as Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Jim Holland cuts the ribbon with one of Backcountry.com’s products.

Last Thursday, Ace Hardware held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its East Coast import center at the Centerpoint Intermodal Center in Suffolk, Va.

The project, which includes a 336,000-square-foot facility, was announced last fall and is expected to bring a $14 million investment and 75 new jobs to the Hampton Roads region. 

The East Coast import center builds upon the company’s existing Virginia presence, which includes 275 employees at its regional distribution center in Prince George County, and many more Virginia employees at the 54 independently-owned stores located across the Commonwealth.

As Ace Hardware’s first and only import center on the East Coast, the facility will allow the company to optimize its supply chain to retail locations. It also validates the Hampton Roads region as a center of international trade.

Virginia was selected for its strategic location and premier transportation system, which includes access to the international Port of Virginia, one of the largest intermodal facilities on the East Coast and the only U.S. East Coast location able to handle post-Panamax vessels as first port of call. Virginia also offers 14 railroads, an inland port, six major interstate highways and nine commercial airports.

To learn more about Virginia’s burgeoning logistics industry and why companies have invested more than $1.6 billion in logistics projects across the Commonwealth over the last 10 years, click here.

Representatives from Ace Hardware Corporation, the City of Suffolk and the Commonwealth of Virginia celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new East Coast import center.

Earlier this week, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling joined McKesson officials to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new medical distribution center in Caroline County. Initially announced in August 2010, the new, state-of-the-art distribution center will allow McKesson to better serve its domestic and international customers, bringing 150 new jobs and a $50 million investment to Virginia.

Ranked 15th on the Fortune 500, McKesson is the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in North America, distributing one-third of all medicines used each day. McKesson’s selection of Virginia over Maryland and Pennsylvania confirms the Commonwealth’s strong advantages for companies vested in global logistics.

The new distribution center will enhance McKesson’s total supply chain efficiency as well as extend the company’s footprint in Virginia. Building off the McKesson Medical Surgical corporate office in Richmond, this new distribution center will bring the company’s employee base in Virginia to more than 600.

Virginia offers several advantages for distribution centers, including easy rail access, six major highways, one of the largest container ports on the East Coast, and the third largest state-maintained transportation network in the country.

To learn more about why the nation’s leading distributors are locating in Virginia, click here.

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon.com announced it will invest $135 million to establish two fulfillments centers – one in Chesterfield County and one in Dinwiddie County. 1,350 new jobs will be created from the combined project, which is the largest job announcement Virginia has seen since 2004.

This joint win comes as a result of both counties working over many years to ensure their business parks would attract world class companies like Amazon. The Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie Commerce Park in Dinwiddie are shovel-ready sites offering sufficient water, gas, and electricity capacity for large business customers, as well as convenient access to I-95, I-85 and the nearby UPS hub.

Due to their central East Coast location, these two fulfillment centers will expand Amazon’s distribution ring across the U.S. and allow the company to easily service customers within one to two business days. Virginia already has a strong reputation for its logistics capabilities reaching both global and domestic markets. The Port of Virginia, with its deep harbor and Suez-class cranes, offers companies the only East Coast location able to hand post-Panamax vessels as first port of call. With two Class I railroads, an Inland Port, and a world-class interstate system, companies located in Virginia can transport goods to customers quickly and cheaply.

Virginia is a popular place for logistics companies with two recent announcement including Ace Hardware and Backcountry.com. To learn more about Virginia’s logistics capabilities and why more than 364 global logistics projects have been announced in the past ten years click here.