Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC, a natural cosmetics company with two beauty and skincare lines located in Tazewell County, will invest more than $2 million to establish a new manufacturing operation in the Oak Park Center for Business and Industry in Washington County, Virginia. The project is expected to create 37 new jobs.

“Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC is very appreciative of the opportunity to grow our business in Washington County,” said Garry Fuller, President/CEO of Chris Renee Cosmetics LLC.

“While our initial site selection process considered other states, Virginia’s strategic location to major interstate networks and proximity to customer markets made it a winning choice.”

As an incentive, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Washington County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $115,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Washington County with the project.

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $80,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Senator Bill Carrico, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, said, “The Tobacco Commission's $80,000 investment in this project helps bring 37 new jobs and more than $2 million in capital investment to Southwest Virginia. This is yet another example of the private and public sectors working together to give Virginians more opportunities to thrive in all corners of the Commonwealth."

“This is a great success story about a homegrown Virginia business that has experienced amazing growth and will expand with a new manufacturing operation. Helping businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector grow and create jobs is a key component of my administration’s efforts to diversify Virginia’s economy. We are thrilled that Chris Renee Cosmetics will stay and grow in the Commonwealth and help build a new Virginia economy”, said Governor Terry McAuliffe.

“The expansion of an existing Virginia business is a great testament to the Commonwealth’s tremendous assets,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Chris Renee Cosmetics has benefitted from our world-class infrastructure, exceptional talent and business-friendly climate, and has chosen to expand in Washington County. We welcome this new manufacturing operation and congratulate the company on its continued growth.”