TORC Robotics to expand Blacksburg headquarters and R&D facility

Montgomery County, Virginia – TORC Robotics, LLC (TORC®), a leader in robotic autonomous vehicle solutions, today announced it will expand its corporate headquarters in Montgomery County. The company, currently located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, will be expanding into a new $2.5 million research and development facility in Phase V of Blacksburg Industrial Park. TORC anticipates creating eight new jobs through the expansion.

“This new facility will provide TORC with the means to continue to fuel our passion for transitioning technology from academic theories to practical, everyday applications,” said Michael Fleming, CEO of TORC. “This growth wouldn’t be possible without the support from Montgomery County, Town of Blacksburg, academia at Virginia Tech, and other small businesses in our community.”

Since its founding in 2005, TORC (www.torcrobotics.com) has grown to become a major leader in unmanned systems, vehicle automation, and robotics. The company spun out of an idea co-founder Michael Fleming had while working in the Virginia Tech robotics department. Armed with unmatched experience, knowledge, and capabilities, TORC has delivered countless successful solutions for the military, mining, agriculture, and automotive industries. In partnership with Virginia Tech, TORC has also successfully competed in the Urban Challenge and Robotics Challenge through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as well as the National Federation of the Blind’s Blind Driver Challenge®.

“TORC Robotics is an impressive, homegrown Virginia company that has flourished since its founding at Virginia Tech nearly a decade ago,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “This project is a great testament to the innovation that helps create the technology jobs of the 21st century. These types of public-private partnerships help us diversify our economy and create jobs in the Commonwealth. We congratulate TORC on success in Montgomery County, and look forward to its continued growth in the years to come.”

Montgomery County worked with the Town of Blacksburg and the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority to support the project. Through a lease agreement with TORC, the Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County (EDA) will construct a 20,000-square-foot facility in Phase V of the Blacksburg Industrial Park. TORC will lease 16,000 square feet of the building, with the option to purchase the property in year five of the agreement. The EDA will market the remaining 4,000 square feet as available for lease by another tenant.

“Montgomery County congratulates TORC on its continued success as a leader in the robotics industry,” said Bill Brown, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. “TORC’s new facility will position it well for its future as a pioneer of one of the fastest-growing, emerging industries in the world.”

Phase V of the Blacksburg Industrial Park opened in 2012 as a result of a public-private partnership between Montgomery County, Town of Blacksburg, and the property owner. The section of the park is located adjacent to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the Virginia Smart Road - a 2.2-mile, controlled-access test track built to interstate standards.

"I am pleased that another home grown company is expanding here in Blacksburg," said Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam. “TORC's announcement to relocate to the Blacksburg Industrial Park is another affirmation of our technology centered economy. I congratulate them on their well-earned success, built from creativity and hard work."

Montgomery County, Va.
Public Information Office
Contact: Ruth Richey
Phone: (540) 381-6887
E-mail: richeyrl@montgomerycountyva.gov

TORC Robotics, LLC
Contact: Janette Brown
Phone: 540-443-9262
E-mail: jbrown@torcrobotics.com

About Us

Montgomery County, Virginia - home of Virginia Tech and the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg - is a progressive, technology-driven community with an abundance of outdoor amenities. The Montgomery County Economic Development Department actively supports the startup, retention and expansion of companies in Montgomery County as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the community.  To learn more, visit www.YesMontgomeryVA.org.