Our central location along the eastern seaboard of the United States between Raleigh, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, places Emporia-Greensville within a day’s drive of over 50 metropolitan areas and nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population.

Our location at the crossroads of I-95 and U.S. Route 58 provides prime access to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico via the interstate system, and to all points beyond via the Port of Hampton Roads.

More than 17,000 people call Emporia-Greensville home, but the area effectively draws labor and customers from a much larger region — serving a potential population of over 165,000 people.

Emporia-Greensville’s landscape, location, and market area are some of the factors businesses find attractive. Major employers in the area include Boar’s Head Provisions, Georgia Pacific, Beach Mold & Tool, Grayson Mitchell, and Belding Hausman.

Recent announcements include:

In just the past 30 months, eleven manufacturing / distribution facilities have located in the area.

Oran Safety Glass, a manufacturer of bullet-proof glass used in military vehicles which last year originally invested $4.1 million and created over 100 new highly- paid jobs. In its first year of operation, Oran surpassed its investment goal and its employment goal. In April of 2008, Oran announced an expansion of this facility, investing an additional $2.5 million and creating 25 more jobs.

Quality Culvert, a division of privately-owned County Materials has invested $6.8 million to construct and equip a 70,000 SF manufacturing plant and will create 50 new jobs. Fed-Ex Ground, developed a new 18,000 SF distribution hub on 5 acres in the Greensville County Industrial Park – doubling local employment and creating 7 to 10 new jobs.

Bell Nursery located a wholesale commercial nursery distribution center in an existing 40,000 SF warehouse facility creating approximately 40 seasonal jobs in Emporia Industrial Park

International Fiberglass invested $2.15 million to purchase and equip an existing 40,000 SF facility on 10 acres in the Emporia Industrial Park. The manufacturer of fiberglass swimming pools for Aloha Fiberglass Pools will distribute and manufacture fiberglass pools and create 28 jobs. BPR Plastics relocated its recycling warehouse operations from Richmond to Greensville County in an existing 50,000 SF facility on 8 acres fronting on US 301, near I-95 at Exit 8. BPR invested $250,000 and created 7 jobs.

Georgia-Pacific plans to make a large investment in its Emporia operation of $2.75 million over the next three years for new equipment, technology and upgrades to existing equipment. The City of Emporia was successful in obtaining a grant in the amount of $125,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission to be used for improving Georgia-Pacific’s Emporia, Va., plywood mill and training for its workforce.

FASTA, Inc., a manufacturer of energy efficient green building components, plans to invest $7.9 million to locate a manufacturing facility for insulated steel and foam construction panels for use in residential and commercial building applications in Greensville County. The project will create 150 jobs over the next three years. FASTA, Inc. purchased 32 acres in the Greensville County Industrial Park and plans to construct and equip a new 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The project includes administrative offices and development of an “eco village” to showcase FASTA’s environmentally friendly residential models.

Steel-Fab of Virginia, Inc. completed a project to expand its production facility in the City of Emporia. The company invested more than $3.4 million for additional land, production space and equipment planned and created 16 new jobs, retaining 59 existing jobs. The City of Emporia and Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.

Aquava purchased the former Cattail Creek Campground and water bottling facility and has plans to re-invigorate the water bottling operations in Greensville County.

Additionally, Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center has continued to make investments to improve facilities and upgrade equipment.

On the retail front...

A new 94,000 SF Lowe’s Home Improvement Center opened in December, 2008 creating 60 new jobs.

Wal-Mart just completed a $1.3 million upgrade to its Emporia store on Market Drive at US 58.

CVS has completed construction of a new drive-thru store at 304 W. Atlantic Street as part of a refurbishment and partial re-build of the former Winn Dixie Center.

Huddle House opened in February of 2009 at Exit 8 off I-95. Five Guys opened near Exit 11 and Carolina Bar-B-Que & Chicken opened on the West Atlantic Street.

Dollar General completed construction of a new retail store at 622 S. Main Street.

Paws-R-Us - A new pet supply store and kennel has opened for business on N. Main Street.

Independent retailers including The Whimzy Tree, Paws-R-Us, White Shoes, and Southern Accents Antiques – have opened new retail businesses on Main Street and Halifax Street.