Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 18, 2003
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136; Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019;
Alt Contact: Erica Robb, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., 757-321-5071; Tracy Aiello, The Schuck Corporation, 303-232-3870
Dollar Tree, the nation’s largest $1 discount variety store chain, has selected Ridgefield in Clark County to be the site for its new 665,500-square-foot distribution center. It is scheduled to be operational by mid-2004 and generate approximately 315 jobs in Southwest Washington.
“We’re proud that a world-class company like Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., has decided to build such a key facility in our state and provide so many quality jobs for Washington citizens,” Locke said.
The Ridgefield site consists of 58 acres within Schuck Corporation’s Union Ridge project. Once completed, this distribution center will service Dollar Tree stores in the Northwest. The facility is expected to require approximately $40 million in capital investment. It will be designed both to accommodate full-automation and to be expanded in the future to meet the company’s growth needs.
“The attraction of Dollar Tree Stores to Washington is yet another example of why this state is a great place to do business,” said Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). “From our quality workforce to our strategic global location, we have become a virtual magnet for regional distribution centers.”
Dollar Tree operates 2,301 stores in 41 states as well as seven distribution centers. The company offers a vast array of products including house wares, seasonal goods, food, toys and party goods.
“We are very impressed with the proactive and collaborative business approach taken at both the state and local levels,” said Steve White, senior vice president of logistics for Dollar Tree. “We want to especially thank Gov. Locke; CTED; Clark County; the cities of Ridgefield and Vancouver; and the Columbia River Economic Development team. The spirit of partnership shown has made us feel very comfortable with our decision. We look forward to our involvement in the local community.”
Locke said partnerships like the one that lured Dollar Tree to Washington are the key to creating jobs in these tough economic times. “Washington has always been a great place to do business, and we’re working hard to make our state even more competitive,” he said. “We’ve reduced the B&O tax on businesses, cut red tape and streamlined regulatory processes. Our efforts are paying off in more family-wage jobs.”
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., is the first major tenant at the Schuck Corporation’s new Union Ridge development in Ridgefield. The facility will be the largest single structure in Clark County.
“We are proud and excited to have Dollar Tree as the first occupant of Union Ridge,” said Bill Schuck, president of Schuck Corporation. “Their capital investment in the project demonstrates a major commitment to the community, will create many new jobs and will attract yet more quality employers.”
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., is the seventh national retail chain to open or break ground on a regional facility in Washington state in the past year. In 2002, Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart, Safeway,
Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., and Vanity Fair chose Washington over other Northwest states to build their regional distribution centers.
The Home Depot’s new 756,000-square-foot facility is now open in Lacey. Target is now hiring to fill positions at its 1.5-million-square-foot facility in Lacey, which opened in March. Wal-Mart is building a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Grandview; Safeway is constructing a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Auburn; Ferguson Enterprises is building a 340,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in Richland; and Vanity Fair, a subsidiary of popular backpack manufacturer Jansport, announced a new Everett distribution center in January 2002, generating 170 jobs and $17 million in investment.
Approximately 1,900 jobs are being created in Washington state as a result of these seven regional facilities.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Dollar Tree Web site
- Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Web site
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 18, 2003
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136; Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019;
Alt Contact: Erica Robb, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., 757-321-5071; Tracy Aiello, The Schuck Corporation, 303-232-3870
Gov. Gary Locke Welcomes Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., to Washington, Announces Hundreds of Jobs for State
Gov. Gary Locke today welcomed Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., to Washington state. It is the seventh national company to announce plans to build a regional facility in Washington in the past year.Dollar Tree, the nation’s largest $1 discount variety store chain, has selected Ridgefield in Clark County to be the site for its new 665,500-square-foot distribution center. It is scheduled to be operational by mid-2004 and generate approximately 315 jobs in Southwest Washington.
“We’re proud that a world-class company like Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., has decided to build such a key facility in our state and provide so many quality jobs for Washington citizens,” Locke said.
The Ridgefield site consists of 58 acres within Schuck Corporation’s Union Ridge project. Once completed, this distribution center will service Dollar Tree stores in the Northwest. The facility is expected to require approximately $40 million in capital investment. It will be designed both to accommodate full-automation and to be expanded in the future to meet the company’s growth needs.
“The attraction of Dollar Tree Stores to Washington is yet another example of why this state is a great place to do business,” said Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). “From our quality workforce to our strategic global location, we have become a virtual magnet for regional distribution centers.”
Dollar Tree operates 2,301 stores in 41 states as well as seven distribution centers. The company offers a vast array of products including house wares, seasonal goods, food, toys and party goods.
“We are very impressed with the proactive and collaborative business approach taken at both the state and local levels,” said Steve White, senior vice president of logistics for Dollar Tree. “We want to especially thank Gov. Locke; CTED; Clark County; the cities of Ridgefield and Vancouver; and the Columbia River Economic Development team. The spirit of partnership shown has made us feel very comfortable with our decision. We look forward to our involvement in the local community.”
Locke said partnerships like the one that lured Dollar Tree to Washington are the key to creating jobs in these tough economic times. “Washington has always been a great place to do business, and we’re working hard to make our state even more competitive,” he said. “We’ve reduced the B&O tax on businesses, cut red tape and streamlined regulatory processes. Our efforts are paying off in more family-wage jobs.”
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., is the first major tenant at the Schuck Corporation’s new Union Ridge development in Ridgefield. The facility will be the largest single structure in Clark County.
“We are proud and excited to have Dollar Tree as the first occupant of Union Ridge,” said Bill Schuck, president of Schuck Corporation. “Their capital investment in the project demonstrates a major commitment to the community, will create many new jobs and will attract yet more quality employers.”
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., is the seventh national retail chain to open or break ground on a regional facility in Washington state in the past year. In 2002, Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart, Safeway,
Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., and Vanity Fair chose Washington over other Northwest states to build their regional distribution centers.
The Home Depot’s new 756,000-square-foot facility is now open in Lacey. Target is now hiring to fill positions at its 1.5-million-square-foot facility in Lacey, which opened in March. Wal-Mart is building a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Grandview; Safeway is constructing a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Auburn; Ferguson Enterprises is building a 340,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in Richland; and Vanity Fair, a subsidiary of popular backpack manufacturer Jansport, announced a new Everett distribution center in January 2002, generating 170 jobs and $17 million in investment.
Approximately 1,900 jobs are being created in Washington state as a result of these seven regional facilities.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Dollar Tree Web site
- Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Web site
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