Chesterfield Firms Part of Export Boom

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that exports from Virginia companies have reached an all-time high. The article mentions two Chesterfield county firms, Premier Pet Products and Filtrona Richmond, as companies benefiting from this export boom.

>>Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch article

German Automotive Supplier Will Open Facility in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Economic Development has announced that ept Automotive has leased 46,300 square feet of manufacturing space in River's Bend in Chesterfield County for a new facility to produce electrical connectors for the automotive industry.

The $5 million manufacturing operation will open in October and is expected to create more than 50 jobs during the next three years.

ept (Electronic Precision Technology) automotive is a subsidiary of ept GmbH, Peiting, Germany, located about 60 miles southwest of Munich. A global supplier to the automotive industry for integrated solutions for electrical connection technology, the firm has more than 700 employees.

Chesterfield County Launchs Citizen Wi-Fi

Chesterfield County has launched a new service called Citizen Wi-Fi. The service enables library users and people visiting several other county buildings to access the Internet through their own wireless-enabled devices, such as laptops and PDAs.

There is no charge for this service, however, customers must have their own equipment, wireless card and software. The county’s Wi-Fi access is as secure as any open public access network, such as dial-up Internet accounts or public telephones, although it is recommended that customers use an SSL-encrypted Web page prior to sending or receiving confidential data.

To access the service, customers will need a Wi-Fi compliant (802.11 b/g) device installed on their laptops or PDAs, equipped with a standard Internet browser, to access the network. The system will work with either Mac or PC computers as long as the computer or PDA is equipped with a wireless card and the appropriate software.

For more information visit the Citizen Wi-Fi web page.

Candlewood Suites opens in the Walthall Enterprise Zone

Candlewood Suites recently opened in the Walthall area on 15820 Woods Edge Road. The 42,588 sq ft, 3-story hotel has 82 suites and is conveniently located off I-95 at the Woods Edge Road exit. The company plans to have a grand opening celebration in September.

Theses suites are designed especially for stays of a week or more. Each suite is equipped with a full kitchen including a dishwasher and refrigerator/freezer. For more information, visit www.CandlewoodSuites.com.

New medical practice to open in the Jefferson Davis Enterprise Zone

In mid-September, Dr. Jolanta Herrera will open a new medical facility on 2552 Aldridge Ave at the corner of Jefferson Davis Highway. Dr. Herrera specializes in diabetes, high blood pressure, skin infections and women’s health. This practice accepts walk-ins and welcomes both Spanish and English speaking patients. La practica de la dra. Herrera acepta pacientes de habla hispana.

Bachrach Store Coming to Chesterfield Towne Center

Chesterfield Towne Center has announced the addition of Bachrach, an upscale men’s apparel and accessories store. The center will be the retailer’s first Richmond location and is expected to open in November 2008.

The Bachrach brand features men's suits, detailed dress shirts, and distinctive silk ties as well as other fashion essentials for the business professional and fashion-conscious male.

Bachrach will feature both exterior and interior entrances on the Huguenot Road side of Chesterfield Towne Center which has been undergoing redevelopment. The new store will occupy 4,140 square feet and will be located near the North mall entrance and Coldwater Creek. Bachrach’s other Virginia location is at Macerich’s Tysons Corner Center in McLean.

In the past year Chesterfield Towne Center has announced six new retailers including Aldo, Barnes & Noble, Charlotte Russe, Coldwater Creek, Hollister and Red Robin. At the same time, the center has been redeveloping the Huguenot Road side of the center to create a streetscape atmosphere with exterior facing retail.

On Target for March 2009

Construction is well under way at the new Target store at Westchester Commons. The 900,000 square foot retail shopping center is located at the northwest quadrant of Route 60 and Route 288. Westchester Commons is part of the 640 acre Watkins Centre mixed use development.

Westchester Commons will consist of large, national retailers including Target and Regal Cinemas around the perimeter of the center, with a concentration of small shops along an interior, pedestrian-friendly Main Street. In addition to offering residents convenient and quality shopping options, Westchester Commons will also provide a sense of charm and community with its gathering places.

Construction began in the fall of 2007 with a grand opening scheduled in the spring of 2009.

Virginia Is Best State for Business in 2008

For the third year in a row, Forbes.com has ranked Virginia as the best state in the nation for business. Virginia has been number one in the Best States ranking since 2006. Forbes uses six measures in its rankings: business costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

Forbes writes, "Virginia remains an excellent location for new or existing businesses. It has the best regulatory environment by our count, thanks to the second-best incentive programs in the country--as well as the fifth best tort atmosphere. Other high points include energy costs 30% below the national average and an educated labor force fueled by its proximity to Washington, D.C., and top colleges like the University of Virginia and William and Mary."

Read the rest of the story on Forbes.com.

Village Bank Plans Move to New HQ Building

Louis Llovio reported in the Richmond Times Dispatch yesterday that Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. plans to move into its new corporate headquarters building in Watkins Centre on August 8th.

The company will utilize two floors of the 80,000 square foot building. The other two floors will be available for lease. The Village Bank mortgage division will relocate to the new facility from its current location in the Arboretum Office Park.

Regal Walls Rising in Westchester

The Westchester Commons 16 Theater is now under construction. The 66,185 square foot movie theater will feature 16 screens and more than 3,000 stadium style seats. The Regal Entertainment Group is constructing the first-class motion picture theater as an anchor of the “Main Street” section of the Westchester Commons mixed use power and lifestyle project.

The photograph featured on the right was taken from Route 288. The project is located at the northwest corner of Route 288 and Route 60.