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Additional 51 jobs to be created
On Friday, Feb. 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Mack Trucks, part of Swedish-based Volvo Group and one of North America’s leading producers of heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks, will invest $14.5 million to expand its Roanoke County manufacturing operation. The company will build a new 70,000-square-foot production facility to increase capacity for its medium-duty truck line and an emerging medium-duty electric truck line. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 51 new jobs.
The announcement was made at ValleyTech Park at 6450 Technology Drive in Salem.
“Mack Trucks’ expansion further strengthens Virginia’s manufacturing industry ecosystem, which is a core focus of the Commonwealth’s economic development strategy,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are proud that Mack Trucks’ initial investment in a new Roanoke County operation four years ago has yielded a second major investment. This is truly another vote of confidence in Virginia by a global industry leader.”
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“We are proud to support Mack Trucks’ continued growth in the Roanoke Region,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “The Volvo Group and Mack are shaping the future of transportation sustainability and recognize that Virginia’s best-in-class business climate, workforce, and logistics infrastructure are drivers for success.”
“Mack is committed to making the industrial and product investments we need to be a North American market leader,” said Stephen Roy, global president of Mack Trucks. “The expansion of the Roanoke Valley operations plant will help us grow in a strategic market segment and support our sustainability goals.”
“We were thrilled to embrace the arrival of Mack Trucks in Roanoke County four years ago and are further delighted to celebrate this expansion initiative today,” said Phil North, chair of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. “Their continued commitment to investing in our community not only bolsters our local economy but also underscores the growth potential of our region. I’m grateful for the exceptional efforts of our Economic Development team, led by Megan Baker, whose dedication brought this project to reality.”
Roanoke County Administrator Richard Caywood added, “Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors’ strategic vision to prioritize economic development and to make the necessary investments to compete in the national and global marketplace.”
“Congratulations to Mack Trucks on this impressive expansion,” said John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “This impactful project further develops the region’s rich automotive manufacturing cluster, which benefits from a supportive workforce development system as well as geographic advantages relative to customers and the overall automotive industry.”
The economic impact of these additional 51 jobs created by this announcement is significant. According to an analysis by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, it is estimated that this increase in operations will add an annual economic impact of $72 million, not just in Roanoke County, but throughout the region.
Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, which the company said is driving prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing, and services that increase customer uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 100,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2020, net sales amounted to about $36.8 billion.
-The Salem Times-Register
