A Mexican company will open a large greenhouse in Pulaski County, creating 205 jobs in the New River Valley.
Red Sun Farms will open an operation at the New River Valley Commerce Park in Pulaski County.
Governor McDonnell is expected to make the announcement Friday afternoon in Dublin. Red Sun Farms is investing $30 million to establish its first U.S. high-techonology greenhouse production operation. Red Sun Farms will be the first tenant of the New River Valley Commerce Park.
Red Sun Farms grows hydroponic organic vegetables. The greenhouse will be built on 45 acres of land.
Twenty percent of the workforce in Pulaski County will be management. This deal was two years in the making.
The elevation of Pulaski County was a huge factor in the decision. Pulaski County competed with Tennessee for Red Sun Farms.
Red Sun Farms' headquarters are in Michoacan, Mexico. It was founded in 2001.
“We are extremely excited to begin construction on our new greenhouse facility in Dublin, Virginia,” Carlos Visconti, COO of JemD Farms and Thierry Legros, Managing Director of Red Sun Farms, wrote in a news release. “Being able to provide quality, safe, and now, locally grown greenhouse produce to our retail partners and consumers is a great accomplishment for our team. We thank the Governor and the local authorities for their support and assistance to make this project a reality.”
Governor McDonnell approved a $350,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to help Pulaski County with the project.
“This announcement establishes a unique, high-tech industry in Pulaski County that supplements our existing agricultural businesses,” Joe Sheffey, Chairman of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a news release. “Furthermore, it is the first in what we plan to be several other industries to locate in our regional Commerce Park. We see Red Sun Farms as yet another step in our efforts to diversify our local economy. I want to thank Governor McDonnell, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facilities Authority, and county staff for working so diligently to assist Red Sun Farms in making their decision to locate to the New River Valley.”
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Click here for more information about the New River Valley Commerce Park.
