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Governor, legislation support
economic development
Economic development reform is a cornerstone of efforts by Gov. Bob Wise and the West Virginia Legislature.
During his first State of the State address, Gov. Wise advocated a Sunny Day Fund to provide state help in closing economic development contracts and a Jobs SWAT Team to take immediate action when West Virginia jobs are at risk.
He pledged a review of the state's tax incentives and its business rules and regulations, and promised the removal of obstacles to business startups.
Wise announced new initiatives to support the film industry and motorsports, and he made a commitment to tourism as a key component of the state's economic development strategy.
His economic plan and the text of his State of the State Address are available at www.wvgov.org
Toyota expands
in West Virginia - again
Toyota will produce Lexus RX 300 sport utility vehicle engines and transmissions at its Buffalo, W.Va., plant.
"This will mark the first time Lexus has produced engines outside of Japan," said Tag Taguchi, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. "This decision shows the high level of confidence Toyota has in the outstanding West Virginia team members."
Toyota plans to invest an additional $50 million for equipment and tooling to accommodate Lexus V6 engine and automatic transmission production, as well as to expand capacity of the four-cylinder line at the Buffalo plant by 40,000 engines annually. The four-cylinder line adds production for Toyota's new Matrix, just introduced at the Detroit auto show, and for the GM Vibe, to be produced at New United Motor Manufacturing.
Combined four-cylinder and V6 engine capacity increases to 540,000 and employment to 1,000 by 2003. This announcement brings investment at the plant to $950 million. In 2003, TMMWV will produce engines for five North American-built vehicles: Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, RX 300 and Vibe.
Port of Huntington/Tri-State
is nation's largest inland port
The Port of Huntington/Tri-State, which stretches along 100 miles of the Ohio River, 90 miles of the Kanawha River and 9 miles of the Big Sandy River from Portsmouth, Ohio, to the northern boundary of Gallia County, Ohio, was officially dedicated the nation’s largest inland port. It handled 81.5 million tons of cargo last year.
Tyler County chemical
company expands
A Tyler County plant is now the only facility in the United States producing Direct TMS, a chemical building block of silanes, which are used in adhesives.
OSi Specialties, a Crompton business, announced a $30 million expansion for a new facility to produce Direct TMS within the existing plant at Sistersville.
The company won the prestigious Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award presented by Chemical Engineering magazine for its work in developing the process.
Metal processing facility
announces location
Feralloy Wheeling Specialty Processing Co. will establish a $3 million metal processing facility in West Virginia.
The company processes galvanized steel coils into cut-to-length sheets, primarily for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning market.
Feralloy Wheeling is a joint venture between Feralloy Corp., Chicago, and Wheeling Corrugating Co., a division of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corp.
The newly formed company joins Ecology & Environment Inc. as tenants in the former Wheeling Machine facility. Ecology & Environment Inc. provides the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with technical and scientific support for cleanups of oil and hazardous substance sites in the Western Zone of EPA Region III, which encompasses western Pennsylvania and all of West Virginia. The company's EPA contract has a maximum value in excess of $16.8 million over the next five years.
Spark plug manufacturer
announces expansion
NGK Spark Plug Mfg. (USA) Inc. will build a 70,000-square-foot warehouse to store oxygen sensors made at its plant in Pocatalico for the Big Three U.S. automakers and many foreign vehicles.
NGK Japan also will store finished sensors at the new warehouse. About 265 people work at the plant, located along the I-64 Automotive Corridor.
In 1995, when NGK first opened the plant, it was the first stand-alone Japanese investment in West Virginia. Since then, others - most notably Toyota - have followed suit.
Marshall University one
of most wired campuses
Access and infrastructure, administrative services, general resources and student support all helped to land Marshall University 63rd on Yahoo!'s list of America's Most Wired Colleges in 2000.
It didn't hurt that MU's dormitories are 100 percent wired, a rare accomplishment in colleges and universities across the nation. Marshall is the first university in the state to:
- have a fully operational fiber optic network
- build a high-tech library
- offer all students, faculty and staff e-mail service
- implement a student ID and debit card system
- offer individual private access to transcripts
- offer a Cisco Systems Academy
- fully integrate administrative services
- interconnect distance learning centers
- implement video to desktop
Bridgeport library one
of best in the nation
In areas with populations of between 5,000 and 9,999, Bridgeport Public Library is second in the nation, according to Hennen's American Public Library Ratings Index 2000.
Ranking in the 100th percentile, the library scored 898 of 1,000 points. Categories evaluated included library expenditure per capita, visits per capita, percent of budget devoted to materials, collection turnover and cost per circulation.
Companies participate
in Australia trade mission
The West Virginia Development Office led the Mining & Industrial Products Trade Mission to Australia.
"Boosting export opportunities for our companies helps diversify West Virginia's economy," said John R. Snider, executive director of the West Virginia Development Office.
The state exports more than $30 million in products annually to Australia.
Participating representatives and companies included Chuck Haden, General Truck Sales, South Charleston; Don Gallion, FCX Systems, Inc., Morgantown; Dale McBride and Jennifer Morton, FMW Composite Systems, Inc., Clarksburg; Mark Jacobs, Boone Supply, Sylvester; Bill McHale, Kanawha Scales and Systems, Poca; and Richard Whitt, K.R. Komarek, Wheeling.
West Virginia, the state
for aerospace education
Aerospace training at the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex Inc. (MAAC) demonstrates West Virginia's ability to meet the industry's needs.
In addition to the Robert C. Byrd and National Aerospace Education Center, the MAAC - located at Benedum Airport in Bridgeport - created an innovative and highly successful program to support local industry.
More comprehensive is the statewide aerospace education initiative developed in conjunction with industry and the state Legislature.
This MAAC program incorporates aerospace education within the West Virginia school system, providing an aerospace orientation and career path option for all students. In high school it offers students an opportunity to start Airframes and Powerplants (A&P) technician training. These efforts build an understanding of the aerospace industry and reduce the time necessary to train for A&P certification.
These initiatives create a renewable resource of trained workers, making West Virginia the logical location for the aerospace industry. For more information, call Terry Moore at (304) 842-9419.
Program trains
fiber optics workers
Education, the business community and government joined forces to develop a training program for entry-level workers in the fiber optics field in Marion County.
Currently, Molecular OptoElectronics Corp. (MOEC), which designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic technology, employs 70 workers and plans to hire more. Graduates of the new pre-employment training program hope to be among the new hires.
The Marion County Technical Center, in partnership with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, the Fairmont Industrial Credit Corp., the West Virginia Development Office, the West Virginia Department of Education, the Fairmont Community and Technical College and the Fairmont Job Service, are all partners in the effort.
Home construction firm
comes to Raleigh County
Excel Homes, Inc., the largest modular home manufacturer on the East Coast, will build a 92,000-square-foot plant at Ghent that will employ 200 to 300 people.
The facility will include design and administrative departments as well as full production facilities. When complete, it will be capable of manufacturing more than 20 homes a week.
Excel President Ed Langley cited West Virginia's proximity to southern markets, the availability of skilled wood manufacturing workers and incentives offered by West Virginia and Raleigh County as reasons for the decision to locate here.
Polymer industry
training begins
The third session of the Polymer Alliance Zone Pre-Employment Training (PAZ-PET) program will prepare 24 participants for entry-level careers with PAZ employers.
The unique company-oriented program includes company-formed curriculum and trainers and introduces participants to the polymer industry.
"The PAZ-PET program has successfully graduated two classes. Session one placed 38 percent of the graduates and session two placed 28 percent of the graduates in jobs with participating member companies," said Michele Wilson, program coordinator.
Training sessions are held as member companies have hiring needs. For more information, contact Wilson at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, BIDS Office, 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26101; (304) 424-8355; mwilson@wvup.wvnet.edu
New plastics
company opens
ENE of West Virginia opened its new, 37,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jackson County.
The plant produces plastic bags for retailers and grocery chains such as Food Lion and Dollar General stores and officially establishes the company's presence on the East Coast.
Representing a $6 million investment and the announcement of more than 100 jobs, the plant is part of West Virginia's thriving Polymer Alliance Zone.
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