Editing Stuarts Draft, Virginia (section)

=== Employers ===
Agriculture continues to play a role in the economy of the area.<ref name=":2" /> However, Stuarts Draft's largest employers are its manufacturing and distribution facilities. These industries were attracted to Stuarts Draft by its proximity to major interstates and metropolitan areas, a relatively flat landscape, and a "high-quality workforce with a strong work ethic."<ref name=":13" />

[[Draftco Inc.]] is a machine and fabrication shop founded in Stuarts Draft in 1965.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Governor McAuliffe Announces Draftco, Inc. Expansion in Augusta County {{!}} Virginia Economic Development Partnership |url=https://www.vedp.org/press-release/2017-08/augusta-county-draftco-inc-expansion |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.vedp.org}}</ref> In 1969, [[NIBCO]] (formerly J. K. Porter), a manufacturer of wrought copper fittings for the flow control industry, opened its manufacturing plant in Stuarts Draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governor Northam Announces 30 New Jobs in Augusta County {{!}} Virginia Economic Development Partnership |url=https://www.vedp.org/press-release/2018-08/nibco-inc |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.vedp.org}}</ref> [[Hollister Incorporated]], which develops and manufactures medical devices and products, opened its facility in Stuarts Draft in 1979.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=Governor McDonnell Announces $29.6 Million Investment in Augusta County {{!}} Virginia Economic Development Partnership |url=https://www.vedp.org/press-release/2013-03/augusta-county-29.6-million-investment |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.vedp.org}}</ref> Other manufacturers moving to Stuarts Draft in the 1970s include Ply-Gem Siding Group (formerly [[Alcoa]]) and [[Rexnord Corporation|Rexnord]] (formerly P. T. Components).<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":18" />

[[The Hershey Company]] opened its second-largest United States manufacturing plant in Stuarts Draft in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hershey Company Produces Sweet Success in Virginia {{!}} Virginia Economic Development Partnership |url=https://www.vedp.org/case-study/hershey |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.vedp.org}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite news |last=Paramasivam |first=Praveen |date=2022-03-25 |title=Hershey workers at Virginia plant vote against unionizing |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/hershey-workers-virginia-plant-vote-against-unionizing-2022-03-24/ |access-date=2022-11-29}}</ref> It employees more than 1,300 people.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Douglas |date=March 15, 2022 |title=The issues in the unionization vote at Hershey's Stuarts Draft, Virginia plant |url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/03/16/hers-m16.html |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=World Socialist Web Site |language=en}}</ref> In February 2022, some Hershey employees started a campaign to join the [[Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union|Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ union]] (BCTGM) to gain better working conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Kayla |date=February 28, 2022 |title=Stuarts Draft Hershey's employees attempt to unionize |url=https://www.whsv.com/2022/02/28/stuarts-draft-hersheys-employees-attempt-unionize/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=WHSV |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Hershey was against unionization and responded by hiring union-busting consultants, [[Labor Relations Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sainato |first=Michael |date=2022-02-23 |title=More than 1,000 Hershey's workers vote on plan to unionize Virginia plant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/23/hersheys-union-vote-virginia |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In March 2022, Hershey's workers voted against unionization at the Stuarts Draft plant.<ref name=":19" />

[[McKee Foods]] moved to the area in 1990 and has around 1,000 employees.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=McKee Foods Corporation-Stuarts Draft, Virginia |url=https://www.mckeefoods.com/114.8 |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.mckeefoods.com |language=en}}</ref> It manufactures [[Little Debbie]] snack cakes. The Target Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center in Stuarts Draft has a footprint of {{convert|1,650,000 |sqft|acre_m2}}.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Target Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center |url=https://www.sbballard.com/portfolios/target-mid-atlantic-distribution-center/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.sbballard.com}}</ref> It was listed as the eighth largest [[Tilt up|tilt-up building]] in the world by the [[American Tilt-Up Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=TCA Top Ten: Largest Building (Footprint) |url=http://www.tilt-up.org/topten/footprint.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141517/http://www.tilt-up.org/topten/footprint.php |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=December 17, 2016 |publisher=Tilt-Up Concrete Association}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The Plant Company opened in Stuarts Draft in 2019 with a  {{Convert|5|acre|km2_ha}} commercial greenhouse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – The Plant Company |url=https://theplantcompany.com/about-the-plant-company/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=theplantcompany.com}}</ref> It grows houseplants exclusively for the consumer brand Proven Winners.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markham |first=Chris |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Proven Winners and The Plant Company partner to offer unique houseplants |url=https://www.greenhousemag.com/article/proven-winners-plant-company-partner/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Greenhouse Management |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Top Employers in Stuarts Draft, Virginia
!Rank
!Business
!Number of employees
!Reference
|-
|1
|Hershey Chocolate of Virginia
|1,300 and over
|<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Major Employers |url=https://augustavabusiness.com/facts-figures/major-employers/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Augusta County Economic Development |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
|-
|2
|Target Distribution Center
|1,000 and over
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|3
|McKee Foods Corporation
|500 to 999
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|4
|Hollister
|500 to 999
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|5
|NIBCO of Virginia
|250 to 499
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|6
|McKee Foods Transportation
|100 to 249
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|7
|Rexford Industries
|50 to 99
|<ref name=":7" />
|}
[[File:Bare's_Mill,_4x6,_300ppi.jpg|thumb|Ruins of Bare's Mill]]
[[File:BARE_HOUSE_AND_GRIST,_AUGUSTA_COUNTY,_VA.jpg|thumb|[[Bare House and Mill|Bare House]]]]
[[File:HARPER_HSE,_STUARTS_DRAFT,_AUGUSTA_COUNTY,_VA.jpg|thumb|[[Harper House (Stuarts Draft, Virginia)|Harper House]]]]