FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Gov. Ralph Northam and other officials announced Tuesday that a company specializing in organic wellness teas will be investing nearly $30 million at Franklin County’s Summit View Business Park.
“We are so proud that such a wonderful company has chosen to come to Virginia,” Northam said.
According to the announcement, Traditional Medicinals is set to invest $29.7 million to build a 125,000 square-foot East Coast manufacturing and processing center at the business park and create 56 new jobs.
Traditional Medicinals is the fastest growing and fourth-largest tea company in the United States.
CEO Blair Kellison said it took two years to find a home for East Coast production. The bid almost went to Botetourt County, but Kellison said Franklin County offered something special.
“The reasons that this county wanted us to be here are the reasons that we wanted to be in this county and that is we both are deeply committed to people and doing the right thing for people and the communities where they live and work. We were not looking for a piece of property. We were looking for a community and the greater Roanoke area and Franklin County just felt like home for us,” Kellison said.
“Traditional Medicinals is a world-class company and Franklin County is extremely excited for them to join our business community and the growing list of firms that call the Summit View Business Park home,” said Leland Mitchell, chair of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
“It’s a great day for Franklin County and really a great day for the Roanoke region,” interim Franklin County administrator Chris Whitlow said. “The impact goes well beyond the announcement today. It’s a spin-off effect if you will.”
Franklin County and the Roanoke Regional Partnership worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for nearly two years to secure this investment.
According to economic impact modeling by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, the project will have an overall economic impact of more than $62 million at full operation each year and create more than 180 secondary jobs.
Officials say the first phase of construction at the Summit View Business Park is complete, and that the 550-acre project will eventually include pavilions, athletic fields, a festival and tourist area, multi-use trails and more.
Tuesday’s announcement makes around $55 million worth of projects under construction in the Summit View Business Park, creating more than 100 jobs.