Potential employer passes on Carroll

HILLSVILLE — Carroll County has come up short in its two-year effort to lure a prospective new employer associated with a possible 150 jobs.

County Administrator Gary Larrowe said in a news release that the economic development prospect will not be moving jobs to Carroll, and instead will hire a second shift at a present location that will use refugees from Burma.

The business, product line and other location(s) involved have not been identified.

Carroll officials issued a statement Nov. 2 that the county was a finalist in an economic development effort involving 150 jobs.
“It is expected that a final decision could be made soon on the new prospect, if we are able to put together a competitive package,” Carroll Supervisor David Hutchins said at the time.

Carroll officials had touted the prospect’s business as something that could not be taken off shore for production.

The county issued the following statement Monday night, in a news release it headlined, “Jobs not in Carroll’s stocking”:

“Carroll County was recently notified by a prospect that jobs anticipated for Carroll County will stay in their current location.

“Carroll County officials had been working with a particular prospect for more than 24 months and were ready to ‘sign the deal’ when they were notified that the project was cancelled.

“Carroll County was in competition with Georgia and Pennsylvania for the anticipated 150 jobs. The company was quick to make note that Carroll County is an excellent location and the company had made the decision to locate in Carroll until a business decision made the difference.

“Carroll County had a great incentive package as well as an identified workforce. The company went on to say that they had a great working relationship with the Carroll staff and the regional economic development effort and that they had looked forward to expanding in Carroll County.

“The stage was set, the Virginia Employment Commission had assisted with employees, the Tobacco Commission had assisted with incentives along with the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and the Virginia Jobs Investment Program had supplied training money.

“In addition, Carroll County was providing several incentives for an excellent and aggressive package. On top of the incentive package, the product that would have been produced could not be taken off shore.

“The business model change was that the company found a source of labor from Burma refugees who were able to work a second shift at their present location without green cards, due to the fact they are refugees. Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar) is bordered by China, Thailand and India.

“The Carroll efforts will continue to seek economic development opportunities from every direction.”

(A “green card” is an identification card confirming permanent resident status of an alien within the United States. The holder of a green card is allowed to reside and take employment in the U.S.

(Refugees generally are considered people unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a fear of persecution, due to their race, religion or political opinion.)