Back in April, I wrote an article for our newsletter discussing a better way to do economic development in Virginia. The example then was lieutenant governor candidate Pete Snyder writing to the CEOs of Magpul and Beretta and asking them to relocate their operations to Virginia. But with a twist: He offered to put his own venture capital money on the line as an incentive.
Those offers are still pending, but a deal Snyder made Tuesday shows that venture capital can make a difference for Virginia manufacturers:
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference in Lebanon, Va., Disruptor Capital CEO Pete Snyder and Bills Khakis CEO Bill Thomas announced a major investment by Virginia-based Disruptor Capital in Bills Khakis, a made-in-America, manufactured-in Virginia apparel brand.
The investment will help support 160 jobs in Russell County, Va., where LACorp —a family-owned cut-and-sew operation — manufactures approximately 120,000 pairs of Bills Khakis pants per year.
“Bills is a classic American brand and a true entrepreneurial success story. At a time when many manufacturing jobs flocked to Southeast Asia, Bills bet on the talented and hardworking people of Southwest Virginia — and the quality shows,” said Disruptor CEO Pete Snyder, who also joined the Bills Khakis Board of Directors. “We’re excited to make this investment in a great American business and good Virginia manufacturing jobs.”
Read more here.