Contact: Doug Chittum, Roanoke County Economic Development Director 540-772-2069 dchittum@RoanokeCountyVA.gov
RR Donnelley Announces $38 Million Plant Expansion in Roanoke County
Expansions Also Planned at Two Additional Virginia Plants
ROANOKE CO., VA., April 26, 2006 – RR Donnelley, the world's premier full-service provider of print and related services, announced today that it will invest more than $38 million in its Roanoke County manufacturing facility. Building improvements will total nearly $8 million and $30.5 million will be invested in equipment. The plant expansion will create 83 new jobs over the next two years with an average salary of nearly $33,000.
Expansion of the Roanoke County facility to increase the book printing operations will result in a total investment of over $100 million by R.R. Donnelley since 1996. This represents the largest capital investment by an industrial partner in the last ten years. The plant is a revolutionary digital facility that offers publishers the fastest, most profitable way to bring four-color books to market. The Roanoke County facility currently employs approximately 220 people at its Glenvar plant.
This expansion in Roanoke County is part of a multi-jurisdictional project in Virginia announced today by Governor Tim Kaine. The total project will involve expansion at three RR Donnelley plants in Virginia. The other two plants are in the City of Lynchburg and Rockingham County. “RR Donnelley has had a presence here since opening its first Virginia plant in Rockingham County in 1898,” said Governor Kaine. “The company is a valued employer in the state and this significant expansion will not only benefit the three communities, but the Commonwealth as a whole.”’
The total state-wide capital investment is expected to top $85 million with 139 new jobs created by 2008. “During our 10 year relationship with R. R. Donnelly, the company has invested millions to create one of the most technologically advanced book printing facilities in the world. Their current plan to further invest and hire employees in Roanoke County will continue to raise the skill sets of our labor force and build upon the dynamic partnership that Roanoke County is immensely proud to be a part of,” County Administrator Elmer Hodge stated.
Roanoke County in partnership with the City of Lynchburg, received a $1 million dollar grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Donnelley with this project. The Governor’s Grant will be matched by Roanoke County in the amount of $700,000, which will be used to offset costs associated with the project.
Jeff Anderson, Executive Director for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, applauded Roanoke County for its role in the project. "An expansion is always a great indicator of the success that can be achieved in Virginia. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership values its regional and local partners and I want to commend Roanoke County for the leadership role it had in bringing this expansion project to Virginia,” he stated.
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance has offered a Workforce Services Training Grant of $83,400 for new job training and $375,000 in retraining funds to be allocated by the number of jobs created at each location.
About RR Donnelley:
Founded more than 140 years ago, RR Donnelley (NYSE: RRD) provides solutions in commercial printing, direct mail, financial printing, print fulfillment, forms and labels, logistics, call centers, transactional print-and-mail, print management, online services, digital photography, color services, and content and database management to customers in the publishing, healthcare, advertising, retail, technology, financial services and many other industries. In 2005, RR Donnelley was ranked number one in the printing industry for the fifth straight year on FORTUNE magazine's list of most admired companies.