Seven companies benefitting from port’s economic and infrastructure program NORFOLK, VA – Seven companies located throughout the Commonwealth are recipients of grant money from The Port of Virginia® Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program that is designed to encourage investment, reinvestment and job creation among companies in Virginia that are port users. In fiscal year 2017, the seven recipient companies combined to create 1,132 jobs with Winchester-based Rubbermaid Commercial Products having added 224 new positions. Port representatives today presented a check for $500,000 – the maximum grant allowed – to officials from Rubbermaid’s leadership team. “The Rubbermaid Commercial Products facility is strategically located in Winchester where, for years, it has been moving its products through the Virginia Inland Port,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The company’s success is evident and the reinvestment has led to job growth and benefits to the Commonwealth. This grant, we hope, will encourage continued growth for this valued port user.” “As a proud member of the Commonwealth’s business community, we’re thrilled to receive this recognition from the Virginia Port Authority,” said Paul Bryant, senior manager of operational excellence for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “Rubbermaid Commercial Products will continue investing in our hard working and dedicated employees who have distributed and produced high quality products from our facility right here in  600 World Trade Center I Norfolk, VA 23510 I ph (757) 683 8000 I toll-free (800) 446-8098 I portofvirginia.com Virginia since 1968. We thank The Port of Virginia and Winchester community, in particular, and look forward to continuing to serve the community for many years to come.” The recipients of this year’s Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program, the jobs created and grants amounts are:
Continental Automotive Systems 139 $417,000.00 Newport News
Friant & Associates, LLC 105 $315,000.00 Suffolk
Haulotte U. S. Inc. 35 $35,000.00 Virginia Beach
Hubbell Lighting, Inc. 105 $315,000.00 Christiansburg
Rubbermaid 224 $500,000.00 Winchester
Target Corp. 463 $500,000.00 Suffolk
Wolverine Advanced Materials 61 $91,500.00 Blacksburg
The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure qualified companies to build new, or reinvest in existing maritime-related employment centers in order to encourage and facilitate the growth of the port. The statutory provisions for the POV Grant can be found at Section 62.1-132.3:2 of the Code of Virginia. Subject to appropriation, the grant is available from January 1, 2014 until June 30, 2020. The maximum amount of grant allowable per qualified company is $500,000 and the maximum amount of POV Grants allowable among all Qualified Companies in any given fiscal year is $5 million. In fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017), the combined total of the grant program is $2.17 million.