75 new jobs to be created by mining equipment company’s Russell Co. expansion

Photo: The building Simmons Equipment Company will use in Lebanon, Virginia. Courtesy of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).

RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A specialty mining equipment manufacturer will invest millions into expanding operations into Russell County, creating 75 new jobs.

The Office of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Monday that Simmons Equipment Company plans to invest $8.5 million to expand manufacturing in Russell County. The company hopes to meet the “increasing international demand for its soft rock machinery,” a news release from Youngkin’s office states.

According to the governor’s office, Simmons Equipment Company will keep its existing facilities and employees in Tazewell County, where the company was founded in 2005.

The project will create 75 new jobs, Youngkin announced.

“We thank Simmons Equipment Company for their continued commitment to Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth,” Youngkin stated in the news release. “This expansion demonstrates that manufacturing growth continues to accelerate, and Virginia offers the strategic location to meet growing demand from international customers.”

Virginia won the project after competing against Tennessee and West Virginia, the release states.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our operations into Russell County,” Simmons Equipment Company President/CEO Matt Simmons stated. “Our business has been growing into new markets worldwide, and this additional manufacturing capacity will allow us to aggressively pursue those opportunities. After an extensive search, we are excited to continue our growth here in Southwest Virginia. We were highly impressed with the efforts of the Russell County Industrial Development Authority, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, and the Commonwealth of Virginia to support us in this exciting endeavor. We look forward to being part of the growing business community in Russell County.”

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick encouraged interested parties to apply for the new jobs online.

Simmons Equipment Company manufactures products used in soft rock mining, which include battery and diesel-powered scooped, haulers and longwall support vehicles.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Russell County’s government and the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority worked together to secure the project. Multiple grants were secured for the Simmons Equipment Company Project.

“VCEDA has been pleased to assist Simmons to grow and expand in the past, and on the current project, VCEDA has approved a $187,500 workforce development and training grant to the company as well as a $500,000 loan to the Industrial Development Authority of Russell County for facility improvements,” VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher stated. “It is always exciting to see great existing companies like Simmons grow and add jobs in the region and that is one of our primary targets for enhancing the regional economy.”

The governor also approved a $270,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist in the project.