RICHMOND, Va. — Editor's note: The video attached in this article is from March 2022.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that the LEGO group will invest over $1 billion to build its U.S. manufacturing plant in Virginia.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Greater Richmond Partnership, Chesterfield County, and the General Assembly's Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure the project for Virginia, accorfing to a press release from the governor's office.
The new plant is expected to be 1.7-million-square-feet built in Meadowville Technology Park. It's estimated that nearly 2,000 jobs will be created.
“The LEGO Group's decision to establish its U.S. manufacturing plant in Virginia shines a global spotlight on the advantages that make the Commonwealth the best business location in the nation, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with this iconic company,” Youngkin said. “This transformational project will create more than 1,760 jobs and bolster Virginia's manufacturing industry, which continues its renaissance with major investments by high-caliber corporate partners like the LEGO Group. Thank you to the Senate and House leadership in partnering with our team in this process.”
The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and the company name is derived from the two words Leg GOdt, meaning "Play Well." The LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are being told in more than 130 countries worldwide.
“The LEGO brand is a beloved brand for families across the world, their substantial investment and the creation of over 1,760 new jobs is a tremendous win for Virginia and Chesterfield County,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “The Commonwealth’s commitment to infrastructure, education, and workforce is paying dividends, and we are confident the company will benefit from these efforts as it ramps up its U.S. manufacturing plant."
LEGO is not the first major company to announce expansion into the commonwealth in the last few weeks. Raytheon Technologies is moving its global headquarters from Massachusetts to the Rosslyn neighborhood of Virginia. In early May, Boeing, a leading defense contractor and one of the world's two dominant manufacturers of airline planes, also announced plans to move its headquarters from Chicago, Illinois, to Arlington, Virginia.
“The future economic impact of the LEGO Group’s U.S. manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County cannot be overstated," said Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission Chair Senator Janet Howell. “[The] announcement demonstrates that the Commonwealth is an ideal launch pad for major international companies entering the United States."
The LEGO Group will be eligible to receive an MEI custom performance grant for a total of $56 million based on their Virginia investment.