| 114th Year, 30th Issue | Thursday, March 6, 2003 | Sparta, North Carolina |
INDEPENDENCE, Va. — Gov. Mark Warner was on hand here today to announce the recruitment of a newly-formed pharmaceutical sales and distribution company.
Harvest Pharmaceuticals Inc. is locating a marketing call center and warehouse/distribution facility in Grayson County, which is expected to employ 30 people over the next 30 months.
According to the release, Virginia was competing with North Carolina for the company. However, County Manager Don Adams said Alleghany was not among the localities in competition for the facility.
Harvest Pharmaceuticals is planning to locate in the former location of Parsons and Rives on U.S. 21 South in the town of Independence and commence operations in July of this year.
Initial employees will include telephone sales and customer service agents, information technology support and warehouse/order fulfillment staff. As the company grows, its management anticipates hiring additional employees in these areas as well as other professional staff, the release said.
"From our experience in the founding and development of General Injectibles and Vaccines Inc. in Bland County, we know the quality and customer service orientation of the workforce in Southwest Virginia," said Randal Kirk, Harvest Pharmaceutical's chairman.
In the way of incentives, Gov. Warner approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Grayson with the project. U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher was also instrumental in securing the deal, the release said.
Local residents interested in applying for jobs at the new facility may contact the Alleghany JobLink Center. However, the jobs are not posted at this time and are not expected to be posted until late June or July. "People will be able to apply here as soon as those jobs are listed," said Employment Security Commission Director Arvill Scott.
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