VCEDA closes training grant for VFP

DUFFIELD – VFP, Inc.'s Duffield expansion has gotten a $312,000 boost for workforce training.The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority on Tuesday announced a Coalfield Jobs Investment Project grant to help train new employees expected within the next two years."The CJIP funds will support workforce development and training initiatives to benefit the new employees expected to be hired in the next two years as a result of the expansion," said VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher. "The 200 jobs anticipated to be added through the expansion make VFP one of the largest employers in the entire region."The grant follows October's announcement by VFP of a planned $35 million expansion of the Duffield plant. That project includes a 135,000-square-foot integration building slated for a summer 2026 completion and a 90,000 square-foot metal fabrication facility opening later that year.VFP manufactures concrete-and-steel communication equipment shelters for the telecom, public safety, electrical and data center industries. The new buildings have a projected $30 million cost, according to VFP officials, while $5 million in production equipment will be added to the facility.VFP now employs 382 workers at Duffield. The 200 new jobs will include electricians, carpenters, welders, design engineers, production supervisors, material handlers and quality control personnel.Additional phases will increase parking, upgrade existing buildings and add a new access road through the plant campus. The two buildings will quadruple the Duffield plant's production capacity, according to VFP CEO Scott Fine.The company in February completed an agreement with the Scott County Economic Development Authority to buy the EDA's Pioneer Center building in Duffield.Through the years, VCEDA has assisted VFP with several expansions, having previously approved loans to VFP, including a $500,000 loan in 2004, a $600,000 loan in 2005 and a $581,000 loan in 2012. All three of these loans were repaid in full. VCEDA also approved up to a $100,000 workforce development and training grant to the Scott County Economic Development Authority (EDA) in 2021 for VFP.Additional phases will increase parking, upgrade existing buildings and add a new access road through the plant campus. The two buildings will quadruple the Duffield plant's production capacity, according to VFP CEO Scott Fine.The company in February completed an agreement with the Scott County Economic Development Authority to buy the EDA's Pioneer Center building in Duffield."VFP, INC is certainly one of our key industries and it is fantastic to partner with them on the VCEDA CJIP grant funds that will assist them in their new expansion announced in 2025," said Scott County Economic Development Authority Executive Director John Kilgore. "This expansion will significantly increase production capacity, enhance operational efficiency and create new high-quality jobs in our community," said Fine. "We are especially grateful for our continued partnership with the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority in awarding this $312,500 grant which will play a critical role in equipping our new employee-owners with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to succeed."