160 new jobs heading to Danville

By: BY DENICE THIBODEAU Media General News Service | The News & Advance
Published: April 14, 2010

A new technology company is coming to Danville - and bringing 160 jobs with it.

EcomNets, a Herndon-based information technology company, has purchased the former EDS building in Airside Industrial Park and will open a plant that will manufacture computers.

The computers - trademarked "Verdio" - will be built using as much "green" technology as possible, according to information released during an announcement Tuesday at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

EcomNets' introduction to Danville was arranged by U.S. Senator Jim Webb's office about two months ago. Terrell Jones, director of infrastructure practice for EcomNets, laughed as he talked about discussions through Webb's office.

Jones said he really wasn't interested in Danville initially, but a visit from Danville's Economic Development Department changed his mind.

"They came (to Herndon) one week, we went there the next week," Jones said. "The next week, we were buying a building."

Conaway Haskins, the state director from Webb's office, said Danville emerged as the place to locate when representatives from EcomNets asked, "Do you think they'd be responsive?"

"Responsive is a small word for it," Haskins said of the city's reaction to the company.

Delegate Danny Marshall announced a $500,000 investment in the company from the Tobacco Commission, complete with a performance agreement that will require the company to repay the money if certain goals - hiring 160 people within three years, investing $2 million in the venture and other stipulations - are not met.

The Danville Regional Foundation also put up $90,000 to help the company settle in, also with a performance agreement attached.

Mayor Sherman Saunders welcomed the company to the city, saying, "Today is a proud day in our city."

Other dignitaries on hand to welcome the company were Carolyn Evans, chair of the Danville Regional Foundation; Kimble Reynolds, regional director for Rep. Tom Perriello's office; and Mary Rae Carter, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development.

The average salary for workers at the plant will be about $50,000 per year, with salaries ranging from $20,800 to $104,000. Marshall said 72 jobs will have salaries of $72,800 per year; two will have $104,000 annual salaries; two will have $62,000 salaries; one will have a salary of $82,000 per year; 20 jobs will have salaries of $41,600 annually; 12 will have $52,000 annual salaries; one will have a salary of $31,000 per year; 15 will have $20,800 salaries per year; and 35 jobs will have salaries of $24,900 a year.