"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your vision."
Kevin Hall, our communications director, filed this post from Lebanon this morning, where Governor Warner was on hand to experience the culmination of two projects he helped push through while in office.
Lebanon, VA—Governor Warner visited Lebanon today to celebrate two major technology projects that will transform the economy of Southwest Virginia.
Northrop Grumman opened its “Southwest Enterprise Solutions Center—a world-class IT facility that will employ 400 people. One hour later, Governor Warner cut the ribbon on a software development facility operated by CGI. It will employ 300 people.
“This community is transforming itself into an ‘on-shore’ center of innovation and prosperity,” said CGI U.S. President Donna Morea.
Governor Warner “closed the deal” on these two exciting economic development projects in 2005. Both companies are key partners in Virginia’s ground-breaking public-private IT modernization program.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your vision,” Jim O’Neill, the President of Northrop Grumman’s IT division, told Governor Warner.
Governor Warner said:
“I sincerely believe that a young person in Lebanon or Martinsville or any rural part of Virginia should not have to leave their hometown to get a good job. These Southwest Virginia IT jobs are a symbol of how we must work together to help create exciting new opportunities for our people in a global economy.”
UPDATE: 12/13/07: Here are some articles from this morning’s papers and TV stations about yesterday’s good news.
- 2 IT centers open in southwest Va.
- Two large IT companies open their doors
- New technology centers open
UPDATE: 1/24/07: We just found this video from the FOX affiliate of the CGI opening in Lebanon: