The family-owned and operated bottled beverage supplier, is headquartered in Ontario, California, and the company is receiving a $500k grant from Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership for the project.
Tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment
Niagara will be eligible to receive sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment for the facility at Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County.
Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will also be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
Brian Hess, executive VP, Operation, Niagara said the Chesterfield, Virginia location will provide ‘an optimal location’ as part of its east coast expansion, that is close to both its existing and growing customer base.
Virginia successfully competed against Maryland for the project.
“Recruiting companies such as Niagara Bottling is at the heart of our efforts to create jobs, diversify and build a new Virginia economy,” said Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe.
'Significant expansion'
“We are pleased Niagara chose Chesterfield County for this significant expansion, and are confident the company will thrive in the Commonwealth, thanks to our strategic location and motivated workforce.”
The announcement comes after a turbulent period for the company. BeverageDaily reported the private label bottled water supplier closed a site in Burlington, Washington, in 2014, making 73 workers redundant, according to the US Employment Security Department (ESD).
The firm also came under fire last year for an alleged E. coli outbreak related to one of its spring sources.
It recalled all spring water products produced at its Hamburg and Allentown, Pennsylvania, facilities on June 10 and June 18, 2015.
The firm said at the time, the E. coli bacteria were found in the water supply but there had been no complaints of illness, and it discontinued use of the source.
The products were sold under brand names Acadia, Acme, Big Y, Best Yet, 7-11, Niagara, Nature’s Place, Pricerite, Superchill, Morning Fresh, Shaws, Shoprite, Western Beef Blue and Wegman’s.