HALIFAX COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Hitachi Energy has announced a significant $450 million expansion in Halifax County, which is set to bring 825 new jobs to the region. The company plans to add a massive power transformer next to its existing site in South Boston, making it the largest employer in the area upon completion.
Robbie Smart, a member of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, emphasized the impact of the expansion. “Hitachi is already big to Halifax County and now it’s going to more than double its size,” said Smart.
He noted that the project would significantly boost the local economy, stating, “We’re going to benefit greatly from the construction project in the beginning, the taxes, so forth, generated from that. And as people move and even those who don’t move here, they’re eating here and buying gas here.”
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Steve McKinney, head of Hitachi’s energy transformer business, highlighted the importance of the new power transformer. “We build products in South Boston that service our homes, our manufacturing facilities, data centers, and so forth,” said McKinney. The project is primarily funded by Hitachi Energy, with some local contributions.
To accommodate the influx of workers, a new 96-unit housing project is also planned nearby. “Workforce housing, recreation, and childcare is necessary for this to succeed,” said Smart. McKinney added, “They will be built for the overall community, but we hope to fill every one of those with a Hitachi employee.”
Construction is expected to begin by the end of this year, with the expansion slated for completion by 2028.