92 NEW JOBS COMING TO DANVILLE-PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY
AeroFarms To Establish Vertical Grow Operation
Richmond, VA – Governor Ralph Northam announced today that AeroFarms will establish a vertical grow operation in Danville-Pittsylvania County. The grow facility will be constructed in Cane Creek Centre industrial park which is a joint project of Danville and Pittsylvania County. AeroFarms is expected to invest $42 million in the facility and create 92 new jobs once the facility is operational. The Tobacco Commission approved a $190,000 Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund grant to assist with this project.
Tobacco Commission Vice-Chair, Senator Frank Ruff said, “The Tobacco Commission has always supported Virginia’s agriculture industry, the backbone of our state’s economy, and attracting AeroFarms to Danville-Pittsylvania County is a big win. AeroFarms’ technologically advanced approach to farming is an example of how the industry is adapting to meet the demands of modern consumers and I am pleased that they chose to grow their business here in Southside Virginia.”
Tobacco Commission member, Delegate Danny Marshall added, “It is exciting to see an innovative company like AeroFarms open their first Virginia location here in Southside. Attracting a company like this to our region shows that the effort we have put into developing a top notch business climate is paying off. I welcome AeroFarms and their team to Danville-Pittsylvania County and wish them the best as they get hiring underway.”
Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, AeroFarms is a global, Certified B Corporation on a mission to transform agriculture by building and operating environmentally responsible farms throughout the world to enable local production at scale and nourish communities with safe, nutritious, and delicious food. The company disrupts traditional supply chains by building farms on major distribution routes and near population centers and defies traditional growing seasons by enabling local farming at commercial scale year-round. AeroFarms sets a new standard for traceability by managing its greens from seed to package, all while using 95% less water than field farmed-food and with yields 390 times higher per square foot annually.
David Rosenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of AeroFarms said,“We are excited to expand to Virginia, an incredible state with a strong farming tradition, and we have been honored by the amazing reception at all levels. We want to thank everyone for helping bring our tenth and largest, most advanced indoor vertical farm to life to create new jobs and increase access to healthier foods with better flavor. We are also excited about the future collaboration opportunities with The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to build on our work with Fortune 100 companies to solve broader ag-related supply chain issues.”
“We’re pleased that AeroFarms has selected the Cane Creek Centre for their new mid-Atlantic facility”, said Robert “Bob” Warren, Vice-Chairman of the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority and member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “It is only appropriate that the largest county in the Commonwealth by land area will soon be home to the world’s largest and most advanced vertical farm. The region has placed a heavy emphasis on attracting technology-based agribusiness firms through strategic investments in our workforce, and we thank AeroFarms for their commitment to Southern Virginia and its people.”
Fred Shanks, Chair of the Danville Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority added, “AeroFarms is a perfect example of how blending technology with agriculture can provide an environmentally responsible solution to growing nutritious food. Given the history and importance of agriculture to this region, I cannot think of a better place for AeroFarms to locate. We are delighted to welcome them to this great community.”
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is committed to developing a diverse economy in Southern and Southwest Virginia. Agriculture has always been an important part of Virginia’s economy and the Commission is proud to support companies, like AeroFarms, that will continue that tradition.
Contact: Jordan Butler
Telephone: 804-786-7692
Cell: 757-692-0878
Email: jbutler@revitalizeva.org
Website: www.revitalizeva.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/11/2019