A leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration systems is expanding operations in Virginia and bringing more than 300 jobs, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday.
The Dover Food Retail family of companies is making a $20 million investment to expand its Virginia operations, relocating from Sylmar, California, to its campus in Chesterfield County, which is also expanding its current production of glass refrigerator and freezer doors and frames.
“Dover Food Retail’s move from California to Virginia is an incredible endorsement of the Commonwealth as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” Youngkin said in a press release. “The cases produced in this facility will soon be used at some of the largest food and beverage retailers nationwide. With 300 new jobs created by this investment, Virginia continues to be the best place in the nation to grow a business, create opportunity, and build a future.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VDEP) worked alongside Chesterfield County to secure the investment, while Youngkin approved a $900,000 grant from the state Opportunity Fund to assist the county with the project.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura celebrated the move, noting hundreds of Virginians will soon benefit from the company’s job creation.
“By expanding their manufacturing footprint in the Commonwealth, Dover is opening new opportunities to reach the ports, highways and railways that drive American commerce,” Segura said, adding that the new jobs expand on the 3,000 Dover already employs.
The VDEP is supporting the project through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultants and funding for companies that create employment opportunities. It further provides incentives to support economic development and is fully state-funded.
“This latest round of investments will add all-new, state-of-the-art equipment to our factories, expand our research and development laboratories, create a Dover Food Retail parts hub, and establish our new distribution center of excellence,” Dover Food Retail President Paul Sindoni said. “This investment will build upon our strong foundation of Dover Food Retail’s U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities, building on our commitment to delivering exceptional products to our customers and maintaining our position as the innovation leaders in the industry.”
Jim Ingle, Chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors said the project marks the next chapter in the company’s 30-year history in the county.
“As Dover is already among the largest manufacturing employers in Chesterfield, this recommitment to our community and addition of over 300 jobs spotlights the strength of our growing community’s workforce,” Ingle said. “We are thankful for the strong partnerships that made this investment happen, and I look forward to seeing more Chesterfield-made Dover products in use all over our region.”
