RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gates Corp., a non-tire manufacturer of rubber automotive and industrial products, systems and components, will invest about $8 million to open a plant employing 172 in southwest Virginia, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Thursday.
The plant, in an industrial park operated by Smyth and Washington counties, will be the Denver-based corporation's first in Virginia.
''Gates is an impressive national corporation with international ties,'' Kaine said in a news release.
Gates, a subsidiary of global engineering group Tomkins plc, has sales and marketing operations in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America in addition to North America.
Kaine approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist the two counties with the project, and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission added another $300,000.
The state competed with Tennessee for the plant.