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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

YakAttack Expands Manufacturing in Prince Edward County, Virginia

12/20/2018
YakAttack, a leading manufacturer of kayak fishing gear and rigging, will relocate and expand its production facility in Prince Edward County, Virginia.

The company recently acquired technology that will allow for more control over its supply chain and requires additional square footage to house the new processes. YakAttack invested $3.4 million to move from its existing facility in Nottoway County to a 66,000-square-foot space in Prince Edward County, with plans to create 34 jobs.

“With our beginnings in a garage in Central Virginia, YakAttack could not be happier to deepen those roots with this expansion into Prince Edward County,” said President of YakAttack Luther Cifers.“We’ve built an incredible team, significant technology, and a powerful brand. This move will enable us to capitalize on the growth opportunities that these things have created, and create small town manufacturing jobs in the process. We appreciate the efforts of Prince Edward County Administrator Wade Bartlett and his team, the Virginia Tobacco Commission, and Governor Northam and his staff, which have helped make this project a reality.”

Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Prince Edward County, Virginia’s Growth Alliance, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Commission to secure the project for Virginia.

Governor Northam approved a $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Prince Edward County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $110,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project.

YakAttack is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Virginia’s kayak fishing community has become hooked on YakAttack, a beloved member and integral part of the region’s emerging adventure tourism industry since they arrived in 2009,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “We thank YakAttack for creating 34 new jobs in our Commonwealth and are confident the company will continue to grow and thrive as they chart a new course in Prince Edward County.”

“YakAttack is an incredible manufacturing success story for Virginia, and we are thrilled at the company’s decision to expand in Prince Edward County,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “To remain competitive in a 21st-century economy, manufacturers must embrace and invest in innovative technologies, and YakAttack’s strategic improvements to its production processes are sure to move both the company and the Commonwealth forward.”

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