Virginia MetalFab, a full-service metal manufacturing provider, will expand to a larger facility in Appomattox, Virginia. The $9 million project is expected to create 130 jobs over the next three years.

The company will lease the former Thomasville plant, occupying 250,000-square-feet of production space to meet increased demand for its products and services.

“Residing here in Central Virginia has helped propel our growth in part due to the central location of the North Carolina Triad, Washington, D.C., and Virginia’s own Eastern Shore,” said Virginia MetalFab General Manager Brian Morris. “As we looked to expand significantly, we determined this area provided the best opportunity for growth to continue to serve these high-growth areas. Additionally, for our future growth we wanted to strategically be between the I-81 and I-95 corridors for simplified logistics both to the northeast and southeast. Moving to Appomattox was the cherry on top for our company’s expansion and we couldn’t be happier to partner with this community as we seek our continued growth.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and the Town of Appomattox to secure the project and will support Virginia MetalFab’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.

“Virginia MetalFab has been a valuable employer in the Commonwealth for two decades, and this important expansion will help secure its future longevity in Appomattox,” noted Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Manufacturing is a priority sector in Virginia and our workforce recruitment and training programs are critical to ensuring a talent pipeline in an industry that is ever-changing and modernizing. We are proud of the company’s success and remain committed to providing an environment for businesses of all sizes to thrive.

” Virginia MetalFab was founded in 2002 to provide the equine industry with high-quality manufactured and customized products. Today, the company manufactures metal parts and assemblies for a wide range of industry leaders in energy, utilities, transportation, and technology.

“Virginia MetalFab values their customers, employees, and community. They have grown very quickly due to those commitments, and we are thrilled they have chosen to expand their operations in the Town of Appomattox,” added Megan Lucas, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. “The company’s excitement to bring well-paying jobs to the community is contagious. It has been an honor to work alongside them during this expansion and to support their growth within the Lynchburg region. I’d also like to thank former team member, Jamie Gillespie, who ran point on this project, for all her hard work in working alongside the Town, Virginia MetalFab, and our economic development partners.”