Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Whitley Peanut Factory, Inc. will invest nearly $530,000 to expand its operation in Gloucester County. The expansion will allow Whitley’s Peanuts to increase production, improve operational efficiency and achieve an even higher level of food safety certification. The company will create five new jobs and increase their annual purchases of Virginia-grown peanuts by 36 percent to over 600,000 pounds over the next three years.
The Commonwealth is partnering with Gloucester County and Whitley’s Peanut Factory on the project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Gov. Northam approved a $20,000 grant from the AFID Fund to assist with the project that will be matched by Gloucester County with local funds. It is the first AFID award to Gloucester County and the first Governor’s discretionary award made to the county in over 20 years.
