Universal Fibers welcomed Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to its Washington County, Va., headquarters for a plant tour yesterday. The company is undergoing a $13 million expansion that is partly funded by a $150,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund. The expansion has resulted in increased production capacity and the hiring of more than 200 new employees, according to the company.

In his remarks McDonnell called Universal Fibers a Virginia success story. “I just wanted to come by and say thanks for what you are doing here. A top priority for me is jobs and to foster economic development. You’ve got a good model of how to do that and it’s something that needs to be duplicated.”

Gov. McDonnell meets with Universal Fibers staff.

“We like to say we export products, not jobs,” noted Universal Fibers CEO Marc Ammen. “We’ve welcomed 200 new families here this year and we’ve done it by creating a sustainable product that is in demand in markets around the world.

Joining McDonnell on the tour was Virginia Delegate Joe Johnson; Dulcie Mumpower, the chair of the Washington County, Va., Board of Supervisors; Russell Owens, the Chair of the Industrial Development Authority of Washington County; and Christy Parker, the Assistant County Administrator.

For more information about Universal Fibers, call customer service at (800) 457-4759 or visit www.universalfibers.com.