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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Unison Plans Danville, Virginia, Manufacturing Complex

09/08/2017
Unison Ltd, a British-based leading global tube bending machine specialist, will invest $5.2 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in the Cane Creek Centre Industrial Park, jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

Julian Kidger, Joint Managing Director of Unison, said, “We are thrilled to be announcing this expansion with a community that understands our vision of education and industry working in partnership. The business environment Virginia is creating around advanced manufacturing was a key driver in our choice of location. Real investment in attracting the right sort of business to the area is supported by an equal drive and investment in education. This is key to the long-term success of any business. The professional and financial support available through the Tobacco Commission, the Commonwealth Opportunity Fund and the local municipalities further enhanced an already compelling case.”

Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $105,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Danville and Pittsylvania County with the project.

In addition, The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $330,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. Unison is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will also be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Governor Terry McAuliffe said, “I met with Unison officials on this important project in June, and am proud the Commonwealth was selected as the company’s entry point into the U.S. market. Strengthening the advanced manufacturing sector is a key component of diversifying and building the new Virginia economy, and we look forward to helping Unison succeed.”

“When an international company chooses Virginia as the location of its first U.S. manufacturing operation, it demonstrates the strengths of our infrastructure, education system, skilled labor pool, and overall competitiveness on a global scale,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. “With more than 240,000 Virginians working in the manufacturing industry, Unison will benefit from a pipeline of talent as the company expands its footprint. Danville and Pittsylvania County, working collaboratively, have made strategic investments in resources to build its manufacturing workforce, and it’s exciting to see those efforts rewarded by attracting this great project.”

Danville Mayor John Gilstrap said, “This region has an affinity for advanced manufacturing and has built an extraordinary workforce training capability that will support Unison’s growth in the U.S. market. We believe that Unison will add tremendous value to this rapidly growing regional economy and will help diversify the region’s industry base. It’s very encouraging to know that international companies, like Unison, have confidence that they can be globally competitive operating in Danville Pittsylvania County.”

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