A $4 million expansion of Shenandoah Waste Services' recycling operation in Page County will create an additional 60 jobs, the governor's office announced today.

Page County, north of Charlottesville, competed with locations in Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia for the project.

Shenandoah Waste Services' recycled materials are used as an alternative fuel source for energy production.

In a news release, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said the company's operations "capture waste that would otherwise go to landfills, transforming the end product into an alternative energy source -- a win for Virginians and the outdoors."

Kaine approved $75,000 from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Page County with the project. The state also will provide training assistance.

Jody Salyards, owner of Shenandoah Waste Services, said in the release that among the factors involved in the decision to expand in Page were "proximity to markets, a dedicated workforce and Page County's vision for preserving the picturesque nature of their community."

-- Randy Hallman