Chris Renee Cosmetics to establish new manufacturing operation in Washington County, Virginia

Chris Renee Cosmetics, natural cosmetics company based in Virginia, has unveiled plans to launch a new manufacturing operation in Washington County.

The company is planning to invest more than $2m in the proposed project located in the Oak Park Center for Business and Industry in Abingdon.

The Commonwealth’s Opportunity fund and Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds have granted financial support of about $115,000 and $80,000 respectively, to assist Washington County with the project.

The company’s employee training as well as the related funding and services will be administered by Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Chris Renee Cosmetics president and CEO Garry Fuller said: "While our initial site selection process considered other states, Virginia’s strategic location to major interstate networks and proximity to customer markets made (Washington County) a winning choice."

Governor McAuliffe said: "This is a great success story about a homegrown Virginia business that has experienced amazing growth and will expand with a new manufacturing operation. Helping businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector grow and create jobs is a key component of my administration’s efforts to diversify Virginia’s economy."

Chris Renee Cosmetics operates two product lines under labels of Chris Renee Cosmetics as well as 40 West Naturals.

The proposed project is expected to create 37 job opportunities in the region.

Apart from Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee were also considered for the project.