APPOMATTOX COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Governor McAuliffe announced just hours ago that Xpress Natural Gas will invest $7.8 million to establish a natural gas supply operation in Appomattox County. Virginia successfully competed against Pennsylvania for the project, which will create new jobs and cheaper fuel.
This is the second major job announcement in 15-years in Appomattox County. Last November, Lindenburg Industry brought nearly 350 jobs to the area. Now, Xpress Natural Gas will create 50 and plan to expand.
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"I'm really fired up as you can tell," said McAuliffe. "This is a big deal for Virginia."
It's the beginning of a footprint -- XNG is laying down a foundation to provide natural gas, cheap energy and job opportunities.
The Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund handed over a $100,000 check to XNG. And, the Virginia Tobacco Commission matched the amount. Many investors believe the county will see a large return on investment with this new venture.
"We lost 2,500 jobs in a 15-year period," said Appomattox County Director of Economic Development Jeff Taylor. "So what's important is that we are slowing building back up from major losses due to NAFTA and the textile and furniture industries."
"With this investment of $7.8 million...I got to tell you, this is as important as announcing a thousand jobs in northern Virginia," said McAuliffe. "What this means for this community that has been hurt for so long...what you are now doing here is putting an anchor down."
This is XNG's fifth facility. Management said this location is ideal because there is a pipeline that runs directly underneath the property.
"We take gas off existing pipelines and we compress it into trucks and we take those trucks and deliver it to our customers," said Co-Founder Seth Berry. "And, those trucks then deliver that gas to them as if they were on a pipeline. That's why we call it a virtual pipeline."
XNG said their product helps keep more green in your wallet as natural gas is about one-fourth less expensive than propane or oil.
XNG said construction is slated to begin the new year of 2016 and plan to be operational in the spring.
ORIGINAL: Governor McAuliffe announced Friday that Xpress Natural Gas (XNG) will invest $7.8 million to establish a natural gas supply operation in the Appomattox Center for Business and Commerce in Appomattox County.
Virginia successfully competed against Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 50 new jobs.
XNG provides an uninterruptible compressed and liquid natural gas supply to remote users in order to avoid costly, sometimes impossible, installation of pipeline. XNG designed and developed an innovative gas transfer station and successfully operates a logistical natural gas solution using an extensive truck and tanker fleet that is dispatched utilizing a tracking system.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Appomattox County to secure the project for Virginia. Gov. McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund to assist Appomattox with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $100,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.
The company is eligible to receive funding from the Economic Development Access Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Additional funding and services to support the company's employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.