BFPE International, a full-service fire protection and security system firm, has leased 15,660 square feet of industrial space at 2601 Reliance Drive in Virginia Beach. The company will move its regional headquarters from Chesapeake to the new location in Oceana West Corporate Park.
The company is headquartered in Hanover, Md., and has other offices in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina. It is a privately held company founded in 1970. BFPE also maintains an international presence with projects in Bermuda, Egypt, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
BFPE provide sales, installation, inspection, testing and engineering services of fire and security systems. The company is a small woman- and minority-owned certified Class A contractor and is certified through the Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services.
“BFPE considered relocating out of the Hampton Roads region so we are particularly pleased to retain this company in the region and in Virginia Beach,” said Warren Harris, director of Virginia Beach Economic Development. “We continually seek regional headquarter operations to our growing business roster. BFPE fits our target industry efforts as we continue to grow our corporate business base.”
BFPE will invest $300,000 in the real estate build-out, $525,000 in furniture, fixtures and equipment, and $125,000 in machinery and tools. The expansion will also enable the company to add 30 new jobs in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Beach Development Authority has awarded the company an Economic Development Investment Program grant of $50,000 based on the company’s capital investment. The new location is within the Accident Potential Zone-1 (APZ-1) of Naval Air Station Oceana and qualifies for economic development incentives through the YesOceana program. These incentives include 90 percent rebate of the business license tax and reimbursement of development review and permitting fees.
The YesOceana program was established in response to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s recommendation to close NAS Oceana in 2005. The innovative program moves nonconforming businesses out of APZ-1 and recruits businesses that meet zoning and conformity specifications into the area. It is the only program of its kind in the country, and YesOceana now serves as a model for other localities facing problems with encroachment around air installations. The program recently received its second national award in three years, as Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. was named the 2012 Elected Official of the Year by the Association of Defense Communities. Virginia Beach was previously named Active Base Community of the Year by the association in 2010.
The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to attract and retain national and international business and industry that results in the creation of new capital investment and jobs that increase the per capita income in the community. The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with a population of 434,000 and is the 39th largest city in the United States. The City of Virginia Beach is recognized as the best run cities in America, by 24/7 Wall Street in 2012, and in 2011, Virginia Beach ranked number one for economic growth potential by Business Facilities. In 2012, the Department of Economic Development received re-accreditation through the International Economic Development Council, one of only 29 economic development organizations in the world to have this recognition. In 2011, the Department won an Award of Excellence for its marketing efforts from the International Economic Development Council. For more information, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com.
###