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Wal-Mart's newest Import Distribution Center hosted a grand opening event for over 400 employees and guests Friday, November 17 at its recently completed facility in southeastern James City County. The event included a unique program featuring character interpretations on the history of moving goods in America, as well as a performance by the Fife and Drum Corps from Colonial Williamsburg. A highlight of the event was Wal-Mart's awarding of grants in excess of $26,000 to schools and other organizations in James City County and surrounding communities.

Phase 1 of the project occupies approximately one million square feet of warehouse on 161 acres and employs 250 people. When the project was initially announced in April, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore's office noted that Wal-Mart expects to increase its investment and expand to meet future needs.

The facility is designed to receive and store shipments of products manufactured overseas, which arrive year-round through the Ports of Hampton Roads. At the appropriate time, these products are transferred from this facility to regional Wal-Mart distribution centers up and down the East Coast, and from there to Wal-Mart retail stores.

Tony Kral, Wal-Mart's new import distribution center General Manager, stated "The six-month start-up for this facility has been one of the quickest and smoothest in the company's history." He noted that local, regional, and State agencies have been highly supportive in not only the project permitting, but also in the recruitment and employment aspects of the start-up. The Virginia Employment Commission received and helped process over 3,000 applications for the company's 250 positions here.

Ron Nervitt, James City County Board of Supervisors Chairman, observed that James City County is a community with a lot to offer. "Our exceptional quality of life attracts high quality companies and good corporate citizens. They, in turn, help make the community a better place to live and work," said Nervitt. As an example, he pointed to the fact that Wal-Mart's entire 22-member advance team spent an entire day working with the local United Way's Day of Caring before the companys facility had even opened.

Gil Bartlett, Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of James City County, noted that Wal-Mart is the third large company either to locate or expand in the Skiffe's Creek Industrial Area since the County was awarded an Enterprise Zone designation there in 1996. Bartlett added, "Our James River Enterprise Zone includes about 2,500 acres of industrially zoned land. The Enterprise Zone program offers an attractive State and local incentives package to qualifying companies locating there, so we hope to see more major announcements such as Wal-Mart's in the future."

According to Keith Taylor, James City County's Economic Development Director, "Wal-Mart has opened up the GreenMount Industrial Park, which still has about 600 acres available, and there are other large industrial properties available in the immediate area as well." Taylor also noted that recent decisions by companies such as John Deere and Wal-Mart to locate large facilities in James City County provide additional validation that the County is a viable major business location.