Collegiate School Expands Footprint into Chesterfield County

New Area Aquatics Center to Be Named After Distinguished Independent School

Collegiate School, a member of the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP), announced today that it will lend its name to the new state-of-the-art aquatics center. It will be officially named the “Collegiate School Aquatics Center”.

Located in Chesterfield County, the aquatics center is the latest addition to Ukrop Park, which is the Richmond Kickers Club’s 46-acre sports complex. The new facility will also be the home of Poseidon Swimming.

“We are thrilled to join with our partners in leading the effort to bring a world-class aquatics center to Richmond and Chesterfield County,” said Collegiate Head of School Keith Evans. “Our investment will provide our swimmers with a home pool while giving us a chance to help GRAP reach its goal of teaching every second-grader to swim by 2020.”

Aquatics Center Features

• Located in Ukrop Park at the intersection of Chippenham Parkway and Ironbridge Road, Dale District, Chesterfield County
• 54,000+ square foot facility
• Three pools
• 50 meter, eight lane, competition pool (the pool used at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, NE where some of the country’s best swimmers set many national records)
• Therapy pool, complete with two underwater treadmills and diagnostic video equipment
• 25-yard, warm water pool will be available for lessons
• 7,000 square foot mezzanine grandstand will seat up to 700 enthusiastic spectators

“Chesterfield County is very pleased to have Collegiate School join the county in this endeavor,” said County Administrator Jay Stegmaier. “Its continued quest for excellence, both in and out of the classroom, has earned Collegiate quite a reputation. We look forward to working with the school to further grow its presence in Chesterfield County.

Collegiate currently holds its swim practices in the evening at St. Catherine’s School. With the opening of the Collegiate School Aquatics Center, the school will shift its practices to afternoons starting next November. “The aquatics center is only 18 minutes from our main campus yet gives us an opportunity to have an expanded presence in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area. We have terrific partners to work with and have enjoyed the support of Chesterfield County’s leadership from day one,” said Evans.

The Collegiate School Aquatics Center has become a reality due to the collaboration of five of our area’s finest education and sports organizations: Collegiate School, Trinity Episcopal School, Poseidon Swimming, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, Sports Backers and the many community leaders who formed the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP).

“This new center will have a catalytic impact by providing a community-wide focus on swimming and water safety,” said Bobby Ukrop, Chairman of the Board, Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership.

The Collegiate School Aquatics Center is centrally located in the Dale District of Chesterfield County.

“What a great announcement for both Chesterfield County and the entire region. With sports being a key component of our overall tourism effort, the new facility will have terrific economic impact attracting visitors from up and down the East Coast,” said Dale Supervisor Jim Holland.

The Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership will be hosting a grand opening event on March 13, 2012.

Media Contacts:

Keith Evans
Collegiate School
kevans@collegiate-va.org
804-741-9702

Bobby Ukrop
Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership
bobby.ukrop@ukrops.com
804-340-3105

Will Davis
Chesterfield County Economic Development
wdavis@chesterfieldbusiness.com
804-318-8558

New Tourism Video for Richmond Region Posted

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Honeywell to Invest $27.5 million in Chesterfield County

Company will create 50 new jobs.

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Honeywell, a Fortune 100 manufacturing and technology company, will invest $27.5 million to add to its Advanced Fibers and Composites (AF&C) operation in Chesterfield County. AF&C manufactures the lightest, strongest polyethylene fiber available anywhere in the world, which is used for ballistic protection with the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and in certain industrial applications. The project will create 50 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina and South Carolina.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "As home to 17 facilities employing approximately 1,800 Virginians, the Commonwealth values Honeywell as a major corporate partner. An investment of this magnitude to manufacture life-saving technology at its operation in Chesterfield County is significant for the region and for Virginia. Honeywell’s AF&C unit supplies the materials that helps keep U.S. soldiers and law enforcement personnel safe by enabling stronger, lighter bullet resistant vests and other armor, and we appreciate the company’s commitment to our country and continued investment in the Commonwealth."

"Honeywell began operations in Virginia as early as 1928, and it is gratifying that the company continues to thrive more than 80 years later," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Approximately 300 are employed by Honeywell in Chesterfield County, and we are pleased that with this investment 50 new jobs will be added."

Honeywell ballistic materials have been trusted to protect military and police forces around the world for more than two decades. They are used in a variety of applications where lightweight strength is critical, including bullet-resistant vests, breast plates, helmets, combat vehicles and military aircraft. The fiber is also used in a wide variety of industrial and recreational applications, including rope and lifting slings, mooring lines, fishing line, sail cloth and security netting.

"Honeywell’s Advanced Fibers and Composites business, based in Chesterfield County, is already a premier supplier of life-saving materials for bullet-resistant vests and helmets as well as for industrial applications. This investment will allow us to better serve our customers with next-generation materials," said Andreas Kramvis, President and CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies. "We are grateful for the support of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Chesterfield County, and look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County, the Greater Richmond Partnership and Virginia’s Gateway Region to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $300,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

"We are so pleased when one of our long-standing existing businesses expands," said Dan Gecker, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. "It demonstrates that they have found Chesterfield County to be a profitable business environment, and we sincerely appreciate their commitment to Chesterfield County and look forward to their continued growth. Honeywell is producing quality leading edge products and it is especially rewarding that their technology is saving lives. We congratulate Honeywell on their success."