Virginia is committing $29.4 million toward a $457 million project by the Switzerland-based Hitachi Energy to expand a power transformer production facility in South Boston.
Hope the Trumpers don’t send ICE to round up any of the Swiss who end up on-site.
I’m kidding.
Swiss people are largely White folks.
The project is expected to create 825 new jobs down in South Boston, in the production of power transformers used in high-voltage transmission, power generation, AI data centers, and large-scale industrial applications.
Should be helpful for the local Halifax County economy, where the unemployment rate was at 5.8 percent in July – the state rate was at 3.6 percent.
Canned quote alert:
“We are honored to partner with Hitachi for the expansion of the South Boston facility. The additional jobs and substantial financial investment in the community shows Hitachi’s commitment to Halifax County and our commitment to a strong business climate where industry can grow and thrive,” said W. Bryant Claiborne, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, in a statement highlighted in a press release from the office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Better canned quote:
“We are pleased to support the continued growth of Hitachi in Halifax County. We are honored Hitachi has selected the South Boston plant for this investment. Since the groundbreaking of the original plant in 1967, this facility and its people have been vital members of our business community,” said Joel Medley, vice chairman of the Halifax Industrial Development Authority.
A twist to the state’s participation in the project: the Youngkin administration announced a partnership with Halifax County and Virginia Housing to build 96 new homes supported by a grant from the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program.
This is to, ostensibly, support new employees at the Hitachi facility.
Why not expand this beyond multibillion-dollar corporations that don’t need our tax dollars?
Just a thought.
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Chris Graham
