KING GEORGE, Va. — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe boasts that his administration has closed a record 228 economic-development deals since the Democrat took office last January.
But instead of generating new jobs, an agreement the governor announced last week will merely shift workers between two Virginia counties and pit one state-subsidized company against another.
Commercial Metals Co. – a recycling, manufacturing, fabricating and trading enterprise – will receive public funding to move into King George County’s industrial park.
Yet any CMC expansion may come at the expense of Gerdau Ameristeel, which previously received state funding, including rail-access improvements, to move to King George in 2005.
Joe Grzeika, chairman of the King George Board of Supervisors, said in a statement: “We look forward to forging another strong corporate partnership with (CMC), as we have with our other businesses. … Today is a great day for CMC and King George County.”
King George County Supervisor Ruby Brabo sees it as a location swap with little net gain.
“King George may see one new job created from this deal. If we are lucky we might get two or three new jobs,” Brabo said. “I honestly do not see how anyone can call this a ‘great day’ for King George.”
