Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to Open Facility in Virginia

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. plans to open a production and distribution facility in Isle of Wight County, Va.

Waterbury, Vt.-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has agreed to purchase a 330,000-square-foot facility on a 64-acre parcel of land, where it will house coffee roasting, grinding, flavoring and packaging of its single-serve-portion packs for its Keurig single-cup brewing system.

The facility will employ as many as 800 people within five years, according to the commonwealth.

Green Mountain will invest $180 million over the first five years of the facility's operations.

The new facility will produce single-serve coffee packs for Green Mountain's Keurig single-cup brewing system.

"An investment of this proportion is transformational for Isle of Wight County," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. "The region continues to rebound after experiencing devastating job losses, and this project will put 800 Virginians back to work. GMCR makes a consumer product that is rapidly growing in popularity, and this new Mid-Atlantic location will allow the company to meet increased demand."

Virginia's "appealing business incentives and the workforce potential of Isle of Wight County's robust local communities were critical factors in our new site selection," said Jon Wettstein, vice president, supply chain operations, of Green Mountain's Specialty Coffee business unit.

Incentives included a $4 million grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Isle of Wight County with the project.

Green Mountain also may be eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

In addition, through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities.