The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission awarded the Mid-Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMaC) $6.6 million to begin the development of the industrial mega-site. Brunswick County and the City of Emporia were co-applicants with Greensville County. The MAMaC project also received resolutions of support from the Counties of Mecklenburg, Amelia, Prince Edward, Lunenburg, Dinwiddie and Southampton. The MAMaC Development Team also provided advice and assistance for the project. The Development Team included representatives from the Virginia Manufacturers Association, the Virginia Port Authority, CSX, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, Southside Virginia Community College, Timmons and Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative.

MAMaC is a 1,545 acre mega site certified by McCallum Sweeney Consulting. MAMaC is located in Greensville County north of Emporia with direct access to the CSX mainline rail and approximately 1.3 miles of frontage along Interstate 95. The development of the project will be transformational for the entire 60 mile radius surrounding the site. Greensville County Administrator David Whittington said the MAMaC site is the only certified “mega-site” in Virginia, and one of only 10 in the U.S. He also stated that five other certified “mega-sites” across the country had already been sold, with each site averaging more than $1 billion in investment and creating on average more than 1,000 jobs.

Bernard Jones, Chair, Brunswick County Board of Supervisors stated that “the decision of Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission to award the Mid-Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center $6.5 million to purchase and develop the industrial site strengthens Southside Virginia’s positioning as a premier global market for economic growth and development; and supports Brunswick County Board of Supervisor’s commitment to work collaboratively with the County of Greensville, and neighboring localities, to grow our local economy.”

City of Emporia Mayor Sam Adams adds, “We appreciate this grant award from the Tobacco Commission. This project should serve to provide many job opportunities for our residents in the years to come.”

Peggy R. Wiley, Chair, Greensville County Board of Supervisors stated that “the decision by the Tobacco Commission to fund MAMaC will have a profoundly beneficial impact on the ability of Southside Virginia, working together, to effectively compete in the global marketplace for new job growth and substantial private investment.”

Regional economic impact analysis indicates an economic benefit ranging from $2.8 billion and 2,487 permanent jobs for an advanced manufacturing center, to $3.7 billion and 3,297 permanent jobs for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) such as Toyota or Volkswagen.

The Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is a 31-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has awarded 1,365 grants totaling more than $763.7 million across the tobacco region of the Commonwealth, and has provided $234 million in indemnification payments to tobacco growers and quota holders The Tobacco Commission MegaSite grant program is a four part opportunity for communities to advance the development of their large scale industrial sites. MAMaC is one of only seven sites in the Tobacco Commission Region to receive funding from the program.