Lithium battery plant may be coming to Lynchburg, bringing jobs

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — A California-based manufacturer, Applied Materials, may be opening a lithium battery plant in Lynchburg, bringing hundreds of jobs with it.

This was a secret deal that was not supposed to be released yet according to State Senator Mark Peake (R-8th District). The Virginia Major Employment and Investment Approval Commission gave the okay on the project Thursday according to Peake. He said this is something the Lynchburg Economic Development Authority, the Regional Business Alliance, and the Governor’s office have worked on for almost a year.

Peake said the plant will bring in roughly 100 employees.

“We have to keep our people employed we don’t want our young folks leaving town. We want to have good, high-paying jobs and I think this company will provide those,” Peake said.

SEE ALSO: Single dad of special needs student sued for $600,000 by Bedford County School Board

Peake is not part of the commission but said he found out after Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine broke the news yesterday.

“I’ve worked hard to make Virginia the best place for business when I was governor and now as a U.S. senator. I’m thrilled Applied Materials is headed to Lynchburg thanks in part to federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Kaine said in a statement. “It’s great to see that legislation is spurring this investment in Virginia that will create good-paying jobs, grow our economy, and boost domestic manufacturing.”

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance said they cannot comment until Governor Glenn Youngkin makes an announcement.

“The Alliance does not comment on active projects until such time as the governor makes an announcement. Premature announcements and comments can affect the success of the project and incentives,” according to the Business Alliance.

At this point, most of the details are being kept under wraps because the deal is still being hashed out. Peake said he hopes Kaine and Warner’s early announcement does not jeopardize the outcome and success of the project. He said privacy is important in deals like this, so details don’t leak and bidding wars don’t happen with other states or localities.