1901 Group, a leading provider of IT services for the public and private sectors, will invest $1.15 million while creating 150 new jobs in Washington County, Virginia.

The new 1901 Group Operations Center at the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator in Abingdon will expand the company’s operational footprint and enhance its cloud-based internet technology services.

“Our Commonwealth has the second-highest concentration of technology workers in the nation, and we are happy to see more companies recognize the benefits of locating technology jobs in Southwest Virginia,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “1901 Group’s operations across diverse parts of Virginia are benefitting from our world-class workforce and higher education institutions that prepare the next generation of IT professionals for the 21st century jobs offered by the company. We are confident that the Washington County Operations Center will be another success story for 1901 Group.”

1901 Group is a market leader in innovative IT services and solutions. The company delivers cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise scale-managed services to transition customers from traditional on-premise IT infrastructure and support models to hybrid cloud solutions that improve performance and reduce costs. 1901 Group’s customers span federal, state, and local governments, including law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, as well as commercial markets.

In 2018, Governor Northam announced that 1901 Group would expand its Enterprise IT Operations Center in Montgomery County and its corporate offices in Fairfax County, creating a total of 805 new jobs in Virginia.

“1901 Group’s decision to expand its corporate footprint to a third region of the Commonwealth is a strong testament to our competitive business climate, infrastructure, and workforce,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “Virginia provides 1901 Group with one of the nation’s largest tech talent pools to support the company’s rapid growth. We thank 1901 Group for bringing 150 high-tech jobs to rural Virginia.”

“1901 Group is committed to investing in growing talent to address the deficit of cloud engineering and cyber talent in the public sector,” said CEO of 1901 Group Sonu Singh. “Our business model is based on engaging rural communities to create the next wave of IT talent focused on automation, streamlining, and continual improvement in large scale IT environments. Abingdon fits that profile with its access to embedded talent at nearby universities and community colleges.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Washington County to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $140,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is also 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 be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“This expansion is great news for Washington County and all of Southwest Virginia,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore, Tobacco Commission Chairman. “I’m excited about the opportunity for the Commission and our InvestSWVA team to support 1901 Group’s efforts to develop a sustainable IT workforce in Southwest Virginia. This is exactly the kind of innovative business we are trying to attract to the Tobacco region, and I know that here in Southwest Virginia, they will find a more than capable workforce and inviting community that will make their latest expansion a success.”