RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that Leiber, a German manufacturer that processes brewers’ yeast into animal nutrition, biotechnology, and nutraceutical products, will invest up to $20 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Innovation Village in Rockingham County.
The Leiber U.S. manufacturing facility will be completed in phases and successively increase its processing capabilities and range of products. Virginia successfully competed with four adjacent states for the project, which will create 35 new jobs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Leiber’s first U.S. operation to Virginia, again demonstrating that the Commonwealth is an ideal launch point for international manufacturers to enter the U.S. market,” said Youngkin. “The company’s new facility in Rockingham County is in strategic proximity to the Shenandoah Valley’s robust beverage processing industry, and we are confident this new partnership is a recipe for success.”
“Leiber is a strong addition to Virginia’s fast-growing food and beverage manufacturing sector, joining a diverse ecosystem of partners and suppliers,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “The Commonwealth’s workforce, infrastructure, and best-in-class business climate distinguish Virginia as a top tier location for global manufacturers to reach new markets, and we look forward to Leiber’s future growth in Rockingham County.”
“We evaluated various sites in five different states in the Northeast U.S. and found in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia a perfect mix of qualified workforce, proximity to customers and vendors, as well as strong and professional support from VEDP and Rockingham County,” said Christian Stork-Bohmann, director of corporate development at Leiber GmbH, Germany.
Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Bramsche, Germany, Leiber refines brewers’ yeast to produce innovative products for humans and animals. The company carries out research in its own laboratories and develops tailor-made product solutions for healthy nutrition, biotechnology, and agricultural applications. Leiber cooperates with breweries worldwide to offload brewers’ yeast for further upcycling, operating five production sites in three countries and supplying excellent products to more than 65 countries.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support Leiber’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.
