2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 358

Commending STIHL, Inc.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 2025

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2025

WHEREAS, STIHL, Inc., the United States subsidiary of STIHL International GmbH, a leading manufacturer of chainsaws and other power tools, has been located in Virginia Beach for more than 50 years; and

WHEREAS, in 1974, STIHL, Inc., began construction of its Virginia Beach location, which has since grown to become one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the Commonwealth, with nearly 3,000 employees on the two million-square-foot site; and

WHEREAS, conveniently located near the Port of Virginia, the STIHL, Inc., facility in Virginia Beach ships products to more than 90 countries around the world; and

WHEREAS, STIHL, Inc., supports the region by giving back to its employees, the community, and industry organizations as a good corporate citizen that supports educational programs, environmental sustainability, and critical research projects; and

WHEREAS, STIHL, Inc., supports workforce development by offering a manufacturing technology summer camp for high school students, and its innovative apprenticeship program has become a model for other companies in the United States; and

WHEREAS, through its work with the Virginia Manufacturing Association and the Manufacturing Development Commission, STIHL, Inc., has bolstered Virginia's reputation as an excellent place to do business and successfully encouraged other companies to relocate to the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the commitment to manufacturing excellence demonstrated by STIHL, Inc., has helped the company become the top-selling brand of handheld outdoor power equipment in the United States, with thousands of dealers across the country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend STIHL, Inc., on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of operations in Virginia Beach; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to STIHL, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the company's decades of contributions to the vibrant local economy in Virginia Beach and service to customers throughout the nation.