After more than a decade of development, millions in state and local investments, and numerous setbacks, Virginia's Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill in Pittsylvania County has secured the largest economic development project in the region's history.
Microporous, a Tennessee-based manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separators for electric vehicles (EVs), has chosen the site for a major new facility.
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the project on Wednesday, which will attract at least $1.3 billion in investment and create more than 2,000 jobs. The new jobs will offer an average annual wage of $60,000.
Despite the size of the investment, Microporous will not occupy the megasite’s largest available parcel.
The company plans to build two 500,000-square-foot facilities on a 212-acre lot, one of the smaller pads at Berry Hill.
The largest graded pad on the site spans over 2,100 acres, with additional land available for future expansion.
Governor Youngkin hailed the project as a “huge affirmation” of the vision behind the Berry Hill megasite, calling it a "starting point for major growth" in the region. "Microporous is not only making a statement for their future, but for the future of Southside Virginia," he said.
The Microporous project represents a major milestone for the Southern Virginia Megasite, which has been under development since 2008. At 3,528 acres, it is the largest industrial site in Virginia and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. It is jointly owned by Danville and Pittsylvania County, which are home to numerous other industrial sites.
"This is a historic day for Danville and Pittsylvania County," said Lee Vogler, Danville City Councilman. "So many people have worked tirelessly to make this a reality."
The region's relationship with Microporous began in 2023, when the company received a $100 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a new plant in Virginia.
Microporous manufactures lithium-ion battery separators, which are critical components in the production of EV batteries.
The company’s CEO, John Reeves, emphasized the importance of domestic production of these vital materials, stating, "Every EV’s going to have battery separators. They need to be made in the U.S. We’ve got to fill that demand."
The project’s announcement follows years of effort to make the Berry Hill megasite competitive for large-scale industrial projects. Since its purchase in 2008, the site has been graded, developed, and equipped with key infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and rail access.
In 2023, it received a Tier 5 designation from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, signifying that the site is now considered "shovel-ready" for major development.
The state and local governments have also worked to improve transportation access to the site.
A newly completed $33.5 million connector road, which provides direct access to U.S. Routes 58 and 29, was unveiled earlier this week. This road, named in honor of local leaders Sherman Saunders and Coy Harville, is expected to accommodate traffic from thousands of new jobs.
Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sheppard Miller highlighted the site’s robust infrastructure, saying, "You can have the best industrial facility, but without the transportation to support it, it won't succeed. Now we have not only a world-class megasite but also a transportation network to support it."
Microporous’ decision to locate its new facility in Virginia over North Carolina is a significant win for the state. The company, which currently employs about 300 people, plans to hire 2,015 additional workers at the new Pittsylvania County site by 2026.
The average salary for these jobs is expected to be around $60,000 annually, with a comprehensive benefits package.
To help attract the company, Virginia, Danville, and Pittsylvania County have crafted an incentive package that includes up to $60.6 million in state funding approved by the Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission, as well as up to $25 million in low-interest financing for natural gas infrastructure from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program will also assist with workforce development and job creation.
John Reeves expressed confidence in the region's workforce, saying that Microporous will prioritize hiring local talent.
The company has already launched a website to advertise job openings and encourage applications from Southside Virginia residents.
The Berry Hill megasite has faced its share of challenges over the years.
Despite its size and infrastructure improvements, the site lost out on several major projects in the past, including a $5.5 billion Hyundai EV battery plant in 2022 and a Ford Motor Co. battery facility in 2023, both of which chose other locations due to timing and logistical factors.
However, with the Microporous project now in place, the future looks bright for the megasite and the surrounding region.
Construction of the new facilities is expected to begin in 2025, with the goal of having the plant fully operational by the end of 2026.
“This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a thriving, dynamic industrial hub in Southside Virginia,” said Vogler. “We are excited for the future.”