The Virginia Tobacco Commission and Campbell County, Va. Awarded AREVA two grants to aid the continued development and construction of the U.S. Technical Center in Lynchburg, Va.
AREVA has broken ground on a new, state-of-the-art technology center which will expand AREVA’s testing capabilities and allow easier access for U.S.-based utilities. The center will include seismic testing capability, as well as environmental chambers to test product resilience in harsh conditions and various metallurgical and chemical laboratories for materials and component testing.
“AREVA will be at the forefront of analyzing and addressing critical technical and safety-related solutions so that our customers can continue to operate their plants efficiently and safely for the near term and over an extended life,” said Michael Rencheck, CEO, AREVA Inc. “We are very excited to accept the grant to partner in developing the U.S. Technical Center. This project is a demonstration of our commitment to the Lynchburg area.”
This new center will add up to $7 million in procurement and building modifications through 2015 in the Lynchburg area and will lead to the creation of additional technical jobs by 2013. The expansion required for the development of the U.S. Technical Center, headquartered at AREVA’s Mount Athos Road site, began in mid-February. The seismic testing facility will be completed this summer, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for September.
“Campbell County is extremely pleased with AREVA’s decision to move forward with their U.S. Technical Center at their Campbell County, Mt. Athos Facility,” stated Eddie Gunter Jr., Board of Supervisors member representing the Concord election district. “The creation and retention of jobs is great news. We’re happy to assist the project and look forward to a long relationship.”