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The manufacturer will invest $57.8 million to establish a new walk-in step van assembly operation in the former IKEA plant in Danville-Pittsylvania County, VA.
Morgan
Olson, LLC will invest $57.8 million to establish a new aluminum
walk-in step van assembly operation in a 925,000-square-foot plant in
Danville-Pittsylvania County, VA currently owned by IKEA.
The company
also considered Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio for the project,
which will create 703 new jobs.
“We’ve been very fortunate with capturing large orders from major parcel package delivery companies, however, other important industries and valued customers use Morgan Olson walk-in vans every day, too.”
“Baking and snack food distributors, textile rental and uniform companies, and even city municipalities all rely on Morgan Olson walk-in vans for their business services.”
“One of the most attractive aspects of locating in Danville-Pittsylvania County is that we will be able to take advantage of the new Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, which will help us quickly attract and train the high-quality workforce we need to deliver for our customers.”
In July, IKEA announced it would shut down its Danville-Pittsylvania County facility, the company’s only manufacturing site in the United States, resulting in an expected loss of approximately 300 jobs.
Morgan Olson’s operation will be housed in the plant currently owned by IKEA, which had planned to close in December 2019. Current IKEA employees will receive priority consideration as part of Morgan Olson’s hiring process.
Support for Morgan Olson’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a new workforce initiative created by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, with funding support from Governor Ralph Northam’s administration and the Virginia General Assembly.
Launched in 2019, the program accelerates new facility start-ups through the direct delivery of recruitment and training services that are fully customized to a company’s unique products, processes, equipment, standards, and culture.
All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation. Morgan Olson represents the first company to benefit from the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.
The
VEDP worked with Pittsylvania County, the City of Danville, the General
Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval
Commission, and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the
project for Virginia.
In addition to the Virginia Talent Accelerator
Program support, Morgan Olson will be eligible to receive an MEI custom
performance grant of $7 million, to be paid post-performance, subject to
approval by the Virginia General Assembly.
The Virginia Tobacco Region
Revitalization Commission has approved a grant in the amount of $1.195
million from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund 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, as well as Sales and Use tax
exemptions on manufacturing equipment and a Major Business Facility Job
Tax Credit for new, full-time jobs created.
“Securing a
project of this magnitude is a big win for Danville-Pittsylvania
County, Southern Virginia, and the entire Commonwealth,” said Gov.
Northam.
“Not only will Morgan Olson ensure the future of this plant for
many years to come, they will also provide valuable new jobs to
hundreds of hard-working citizens of this region.”
“As a native of rural
Virginia, I fight every day to ensure all parts of our Commonwealth can
participate fully in our economic growth. I am grateful to Morgan Olson,
my team, and our tremendous partners for making today possible.”
Less
than 10 years ago, Morgan Olson’s Sturgis, MI facility was
manufacturing 100 percent of the company’s step van orders.
As the
preferred walk-in step van body company with plants at full capacity,
Morgan Olson needed to grow to meet customers’ needs and protect team
members’ work-life balance. The new Virginia plant represents the
company’s fourth expansion in the last six years.
“Morgan
Olson’s major investment in Pittsylvania County and the City of
Danville is a powerful testament to Southern Virginia’s position as a
manufacturing hub,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball.
“As
the first company to receive support from the new Virginia Talent
Accelerator Program, Morgan Olson will benefit from tailored recruitment
and training services to accelerate the timeline to full production.”
“We
thank Morgan Olson for creating over 700 new jobs in the Commonwealth,
and we look forward to a successful partnership in the years to come.”
“With
this announcement, Morgan Olson will become the largest private
employer in Pittsylvania County, and we are grateful for the company’s
long-term commitment to the community,” stated Robert “Bob” Warren, Vice
Chairman of the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility
Authority and Member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
“We are proud that our excellent workforce was able to attract North
America’s premier walk-in van manufacturer, and believe that the
positive impacts of Morgan Olson’s operations will be felt throughout
the region.”
“We welcome Morgan Olson and J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.
to our growing community, and we look forward to seeing trucks made in
Pittsylvania County on our country’s roadways for many years to come.”
from BusinessFacilities.com