Virginia Beach maker of PPE to expand, add 180 new jobs
Company can make up to 20 million masks a month
VIRGINIA BEACH — A Virginia Beach-based maker of disposable face masks and surgical masks plans to create 180 jobs and spend $5.3 million to buy equipment that will allow it to produce more of the personal protective equipment that is in high demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
PremiumEstore LLC at 2601 Reliance Dr., primarily an e-cigarette distributor since 2008, pivoted to PPE production in March, when it began operating as Premium-PPE and producing AmeriShield branded masks.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced the company’s expansion Thursday and said in a statement that PremiumEstore was now focusing “solely on the production of personal protective equipment, shifting its full production to disposable face and surgical masks.”
The company can currently produce up to 20 million masks a month, according to the governor’s announcement. It wasn’t clear how many it will produce after it expands.
Premium-PPE will get incentives through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which assists and funds employee recruitment and training.
“As we saw at the beginning of this global pandemic, without a dedicated supply chain for manufacturing masks and other personal protective equipment in the United States, we would be forced to rely on overseas shipments that are often hard to get and come with exorbitant prices,” Northam said in Thursday’s statement. “By growing its manufacturing capabilities, Premium-PPE will help support our present and future needs and continue to play a vital role in producing critical health care supplies for the Commonwealth and states across our country.”