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Friday, June 17, 2011

First Choice Business Award Winners Recognized



Wednesday evening night, the Board of Supervisors, County Administrator Jay Stegmaier and Economic Development Director Will Davis recognized the First Choice Business Award winners for 2011.

The Business of the Year Award went to Austin Brockenbrough & Associates LLP. Partners Carrie Langelotti, Craig Matthews and Bruce Sadler were present to receive the recognition.

The Employee Impact Award went to Priority Automotive. Bob Saunders, general manager of Priority Toyota; Jacy Poul, general manager of Priority Nissan; and Roger Johnson, general sales manager of Priority Kia attended.

The Community Impact Award was received by Hoover and Strong, represented by CEO George Hoover and President Torry Hoover.

The Environmental Stewardship Award was presented to Ironbridge Sports Park, represented by General Manager Stacy Bolton.

The Innovation Impact Award was given to ACAC Fitness & Wellness Center. Joyce Steed, general manager, and Jill Bunn, PREP outreach director, were present to receive the award.

For more information contact Tina Shreve at 804-318-8564, or email tina@chesterfieldbusiness.com

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Four Companies Add Jobs in Chesterfield This Week


Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Zachary Reid has posted an article about the four new economic development projects announced in Chesterfield this week.
The Shoosmith Brothers landfill joined a nearly weeklong parade of capital investment and job creation in Chesterfield, unveiling on Wednesday morning a recycling center that will divert 100 tons to 200 tons a day of waste out of the landfill and ultimately back into the consumer market. It will employ about 30 people.

Gov. Bob McDonnell also announced Wednesday that Chesterfield will be home to a $1 million distribution center for Emerson Ecologies. The company makes nutritional supplements for the health-care market. Its facility could employ up to 60 people.

The Shoosmith and Emerson projects were the third and fourth major jobs-related developments in Chesterfield this week, following projects involving the groundbreaking for an aquatics center and the announcement of a large entertainment complex. They total about $37 million in investment and 260 jobs.

Read the entire article on the Times-Dispatch web site. >>>

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Emerson Ecologics Opening Distribution Center in Chesterfield

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Emerson Ecologics, LLC, the leading provider of professional-grade nutritional supplements to the healthcare practitioner market, will invest up to $1 million to open a distribution facility in Chesterfield County. The project will immediately create 35 new jobs, growing to a total of 60 jobs over the next three years.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “This project marks Emerson Ecologics’ first operation in Virginia. Chesterfield County offers an available facility that meets the company’s needs, as well as a strategic location that allows access to their customer base within a two-day delivery cycle. I am confident that Emerson Ecologics will find success in the Commonwealth.”

“We welcome Emerson Ecologics as a corporate partner that is new to both Chesterfield County and to Virginia,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The company’s goal is providing solutions for optimal patient health, and its newest location will help quickly reach customers in the mid-Atlantic region.”

Emerson Ecologics is the leading provider of products and services to the professional integrative healthcare community, distributing over 20,000 products from hundreds of industry leading manufacturers.

“The Richmond area was selected for our new Eastern distribution center based on many factors, including the ability to reach a majority of our East and Midwest doctors via small parcel ground shipping in two days. We take pride in our two-day delivery commitment and strive to achieve this as efficiently and reliably as possible,” said Andy Greenawalt, CEO of Emerson Ecologics. “As we investigated the region, we were impressed by the business-friendly climate, as well as the access to well designed, climate-controlled facilities that met our needs. Our new facility will result in a 50% increase in our overall distribution capacity, which is critical in supporting our future growth.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

"We're delighted that Emerson Ecologics has chosen Chesterfield County as the site of their new distribution facility, and pleased that the venture will create exciting new employment opportunities for residents from throughout the region," said Chesterfield County Administrator James J. L. Stegmaier.

To learn more about Emerson Ecologics or their employment opportunities, visit www.emersonecologics.com or contact the Virginia Employment Commission.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Uptown Alley Groundbreaking Held in Chesterfield

Developer Steven Uphoff and his family are joined by Chesterfield county officials at the ground breaking for Uptown Alley this morning.





The 55,000+ square-foot facility sits on a 14.5-acre commercial site at the southwest quadrant of Commonwealth Center Parkway and Brad McNeer Parkway.



New Entertainment Complex Coming in Chesterfield

Developer Steven Uphoff to Break Ground in Chesterfield to Build the Largest Entertainment Complex in Virginia



Steven Uphoff and family, founder of the 68-store chain of Uppy’s Convenience Stores and Southside Oil, the largest ExxonMobil fuel distributor in the US, will officially break ground on its 55,000+ square-foot bowling and entertainment complex called “Uptown Alley” at 11am on June 14, 2011. Members of the media are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held at the site of the $19.6 million venture off Commonwealth Center Parkway at Route 288 and Hull Street. Uptown Alley, to be managed by the Uphoff family and Trifecta Management Group, will feature 40 bowling lanes, two full-service restaurants, the “Uphoff Rotunda” (a round, wooden bar that will seat 100+ persons), and conference rooms for private and corporate functions. The entertainment center is Phase I of a larger construction plan for the 14.5 acre commercial development project that the Uphoff family is developing at the Chesterfield, VA location.

“It has been over three years in the making, but if you want to build and deliver a high quality project that serves the public with the ‘WOW factor’ and provides world class food, stellar service and entertainment, then the extra time in development and planning is worth every penny,” said Steven M. Uphoff, President & CEO of Uphoff Ventures, LLC, the real estate development company of the Uphoff family that currently owns over $100 million in developed Virginia real estate assets. “Everyone is extremely excited to begin work on Uptown Alley. We believe it will be a popular and safe destination spot for families, young adults, business teams and other groups looking for entertainment. It will most definitely make an incredible economic impact on the Chesterfield community. Chesterfield County is pro-business and has made it very easy for us to grow and prosper. We certainly want to thank the Chesterfield Department of Economic Development for their continuing assistance.”

Upon its opening, tentatively scheduled for June, 2012, Uptown Alley is expected to create at least 100 full- and part-time jobs with an annual payroll of $1.8 million, as well as generate $153,000 in annual tax revenue to the county. The 55,000+ square-foot facility sits on a 14.5-acre commercial site at the southwest quadrant of Commonwealth Center Parkway and Brad McNeer Parkway, which is already a burgeoning market for new commercial entities, such as Commonwealth Center.

“What a great project,” said Art Warren, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “A $19.6 million dollar investment with 100 new jobs, and one that enhances the region’s quality of life. Uptown Alley even further positions Chesterfield County as a destination for great entertainment.”

Marlene Durfee, Matoaca District Supervisor, further reinforces Chesterfield’s excitement and support of the project. “We are certainly pleased to have Uptown Alley in Chesterfield County,” Durfee said. “The location of this new project is central to the County and perfect for providing a new venue of entertainment for everyone. Thank you, Steve Uphoff, for your continued commitment to Chesterfield County.”

For more information regarding the groundbreaking of Uptown Alley on June 14th, please contact Dave Saunders, President & Chief Idea Officer of Madison+Main, at 804-521-4141 or daves@madisonmain.com.

About Uptown Alley
Uptown Alley is Phase I of a 14.5-acre commercial development project that the Uphoff family is now developing in Chesterfield, VA. The high tech facility will consist of 55,000+ square-feet of high end entertainment, food and beverage services in a two-story complex, and will be managed by the Trifecta Management Group, behind Commonwealth Center in Chesterfield, Virginia. The ground-up, new facility will boast 40 bowling lanes on two floors, two full-service restaurants, the “Uphoff Rotunda” (a round, wood bar that will seat 100+ persons), arcade games, four private rooms for group and corporate functions, Wi-Fi accessibility and classroom settings, and state-of-the-art electronics for fun or professional use throughout the facility. The complex is scheduled to break ground in June, 2011 and open for the public in June, 2012. The Uphoff family is also the founder and largest single stock owner of Uppy’s Convenience Stores, the Richmond-based, 68-store chain of high end Virginia Convenience stores, Southside Oil, the largest ExxonMobil fuel distributor in the US, and Mid Atlantic Convenience Stores (MACS), all headquartered in Chesterfield, VA.