Evonik Industries has announced a plan to invest more than $15m in the new Richmond Business & Innovation Center and create an estimated 50 jobs over the next five years.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said that Evonik’s decision to stay in Virginia is a win-win for the state and for the Greater Richmond region.
"Evonik Corporation’s expansion of its research and development facilities in Chesterfield County and the creation of 50 new jobs is a testament to Virginia’s ability to attract innovative and growing companies and will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of the community."
Evonik North America consumer specialties unit senior vice president and general manager Dr Reinhold Brand said that the research and development work at the new Richmond Business & Innovation Center will be critical to the continued success of the company’s consumer specialities business.
"This investment will enable Evonik to expand its current operations in the Greater Richmond area and preserve more than 130 jobs," he said.
"The state is very business-friendly and is attractive to current and future employees and their families. With the new facility, Evonik doubles its laboratory space in Virginia, providing the opportunity to undertake special research and development projects, including joint operative research for customers. This is something we could not do previously. It will open up a number of entrepreneurial opportunities for us."
Evonik’s manufacturing operations, which employ around 110 and produces a variety of ingredients used to make well-known consumer offerings such as cosmetics, fabric softeners, toothpaste and variations of polyurethane foams in addition to industrial products used in agriculture, coatings, metalworking or oil and gas drilling, will remain in the City of Hopewell.
Dr Brand added: "Hopewell is home to a robust and fast-growing chemical manufacturing site, and the closeness to the Richmond Business & Innovation Center will benefit Evonik’s significant manufacturing presence in Hopewell. The proximity to our manufacturing site will not only give us a competitive advantage but also support the future development of the company. Evonik has purchased a 93,000ft² facility near Chesterfield Airport in Chesterfield, and will modernise the structure for use as Evonik’s Richmond Business & Innovation Center."
The 18-acre site offers Evonik ample room for future expansions.
Image: Dr Reinhold Brand, Evonik; Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe; Jim Holland, James J L Stegmaier and E Wilson Davis of Chesterfield County stand outside Evonik‘s new Business & Innovation Center. Photo: courtesy of Evonik.