CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- LEGO broke ground Thursday in Chesterfield County, Virginia where the building block company plans to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility.
The factory, expected to open in 2025, will feature a carbon-neutral design and will employ more than 1,760 people, according to previous reports.
![Lego factory Chesterfield](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6c2f5ac/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0b%2F6c%2F429fc71440fdbb2e585c47fe598e%2Flego1.jpg)
"We were impressed with all that Virginia has to offer, from access to a skilled workforce, support for high-quality manufacturers, and great transport links,” LEGO Group CEO Niels Christiansen about the decision to build in Chesterfield's Meadowville Technology Park.
The 1.7 million-square-foot Virginia facility will mold, process and pack LEGO products and ensure they meet the company’s safety and quality requirements.
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![Lego factory Chesterfield](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1230c64/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F20%2F1e46ee9d4f77970b7e41c458d1a5%2Flego4.jpg)
The company will be eligible for a range of taxpayer-funded incentives, including a performance-based grant of $56 million and site development improvements subject to legislative approval estimated to cost up to $19 million, a news release said.