Toyota North America officials joined Governor Cecil H. Underwood, in Charleston, and Senator Jay Rockefeller, via satellite link from Nagoya, Japan, for the announcement January 16.

"This is the first time ever for Toyota to announce expansion for a plant before production even begins," said Tomoya Toriumi, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of West Virginia (TMMWV). "I would like to express Toyota's appreciation to the people of West Virginia for the outstanding support we have received from the beginning."

The new production facility will turn out its first four-cylinder engines this fall. Construction of the V6 expansion project, which will produce engines for the Toyota models Camry, Avalon, Sienna, and soon-to-be launched Solara coupe, is scheduled to begin in late spring.

When the expansion is completed in 2000, Toyota's Buffalo, West Virginia, facility will occupy 900,000 square feet and produce about half of all Toyota engines assembled in the United States and Canada.

W.Va. ranks No. 1 in Dun & Bradstreet
employment growth report

West Virginia led the nation last year in the percentage of growth of employment in new business, according to a recent report from The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.

In 1997, the state posted a 58.1 percent gain over 1996 in employment from new businesses, compared to the national average of 10.9 percent.

The second-highest state in the report issued by the New Jersey-based corporation was North Dakota, which recorded a 32.9 percent increase in employment related to new businesses.

Weirton Steel to invest $59 million
in capital improvements

Weirton Steel Corp. will invest $59 million in capital improvements this year to keep the company viable in the competitive steel industry.

Company officials stated that the investment is part of a plan aimed at improving product quality, reducing operating costs and enhancing environmental protection.

"Our 1998 capital investment plan, coupled with our numerous cost-reducing initiatives, is expected to help us stay in the game," said Weirton Steel spokesman Gregg Warren.

The company plans to invest $37 million in equipment upgrades and $11 million to enhance environmental protection equipment.

In 1997, Weirton Steel produced three million tons of steel at its Hancock County mill.

Governor Underwood announces
record job creation for 1997

Governor Cecil H. Underwood recently joined state development officials in applauding West Virginia's record job creation totals for 1997. Last year, private companies created 9,613 jobs in the Mountain State; the highest number of jobs created during any year in recent memory.

The highest previous total for job creation during this decade was 6,231 jobs in 1995.

"Today, West Virginia is able to provide corporations that are seeking to expand the stability they must have to invest millions of dollars in land, buildings, equipment and people," said Gov. Underwood.

A total of 103 companies announced new or expanded investments in West Virginia during 1997, resulting in more than $1 billion in total capital investment.

The governor and the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development honored these companies were honored for their investments in West Virginia's future at the "Investors Appreciation Dinner: 1997 Partners for Success" event at the State Capitol in January.

AT&T announces 135 jobs
at downtown Charleston center

Governor Cecil H. Underwood and Charleston Mayor Kemp Melton recently joined AT&T West Virginia Vice President and General Manager Edna J. Cash in announcing the addition of 135 new full-time jobs at its Charleston Customer Service Center.

The Downtown Charleston facility opened in 1987 with an original staff level of 70 and currently employs more than 585. During the last three years, AT&T has added nearly 300 workers at the Davis Square center.

"The strong commitment and work ethic shown by AT&T's employees has been instrumental in keeping the telecommunications giant in West Virginia," said Gov. Underwood. "This announcement is just the latest evidence of AT&T's commitment to remain in Charleston."

West Virginia trade delegation
explores European markets

A delegation of West Virginia government representatives, business leaders and trade officials traveled to Germany in December to seek new export opportunities and meet with companies interested in investing in the Mountain State.

The group, led by U.S. Representatives Bob Wise and Nick Joe Rahall, met with companies in Dusseldorf and Stuttgart in the Rhine region of Germany.

State officials are considering Germany as the location for a new European trade office, currently in the planning stage.

Teknetix Inc. announces expansion,
280 jobs at Parkersburg facility

Teknetix Inc. has announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Parkersburg, West Virginia, creating as many as 280 jobs over the next three years.

The Mineral Wells, West Virginia-based company manufactures high value circuit boards and assembles electronic components using surface mount and insertion technologies. The company also assembles other companies' finished products, servicing industrial, medical, telecommunications, computer and other market segments.

The new facility on a 14-acre site will accommodate increased manufacturing capacity and allow for future growth.

Coldwater Creek announces
additional investment, 600 jobs

Coldwater Creek, a national specialty direct mail retailer, will construct a $9 million technology and training center in Wood County, West Virginia, creating as many as 600 new jobs.

The announcement marks Coldwater Creek's second major investment in West Virginia in the last six months.

The Sandpointe, Idaho-based company announced plans to construct a $30 million, 400,000-square-foot distribution facility on an 80-acre site adjacent to Interstate-77 at Mineral Wells, West Virginia.

"This new center will complement our new distribution center in Mineral Wells and enable us to more effectively and efficiently meet the delivery needs of our valued customers in the East," said Dennis Pence, president and chief executive officer of Coldwater Creek.

"Our decision to expand to a multi-facility campus only reinforces our commitment to be the number-one service provider in our industry and underscore our satisfaction with the West Virginia work force," Pence added.

Construction of the main distribution center is ongoing. Work on the new technology and training center is expected to begin in the summer of 1998, with completion expected in 1999.

Three foreign trade zones
approved for West Virginia

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently approved three foreign trade zones in West Virginia, the first to be established in the Mountain State.

Foreign trade zones are secure areas inside the United States border considered outside the nation's custom territory. The designated foreign trade zone areas include three industrial sites in Wood County, West Virginia, the South Charleston Ordnance Center industrial site in Kanawha County and a subzone surrounding the new Toyota engine plant in Putnam County, West Virginia.

"These zones will make West Virginia more attractive to businesses by reducing the costs of producing products with foreign parts or materials on West Virginia soil," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

More than $140 billion in merchandise moves through foreign trade zones each year.

Quad/Graphics announces additional
investment, jobs in Eastern Panhandle

Gov. Cecil H. Underwood recently joined Quad/Graphics, state and local officials in announcing the company's plans to construct an $11 million distribution center for its new service, PARCEL/DIRECT, in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

The new service will create 200 new jobs, utilizing a truck fleet to deliver parcels, magazines, direct mail, books and other mail to postal facilities nationwide.

"Quad/Graphics' immediate economic impact in the Eastern Panhandle is unprecedented. With two major expansions announced during its first year of operation, Quad/Graphics is a significant West Virginia success story," said Gov. Underwood.

The new 332,000-square-foot facility will be constructed on a 53-acre site located adjacent to Quad/Graphics' $60 million print production facility. The Martinsburg center will serve customers in the eastern half of the United States.

Construction of the facility is expected to be complete by the fall of 1998.

Concepts West announces
Polymer Alliance Zone project

Concepts West, a value-added processor of engineered polymer resins, recently announced it will invest $1.5 million in a new plastics processing facility near Parkersburg, West Virginia, creating 300 new jobs.

The company will establish operations at the Wood County Airport Industrial Park.

Concepts West's highly customized processes include blending, recycling, inspection and other proprietary processes.

"The decision to locate in the Polymer Alliance Zone provides our company with a terrific advantage because of the area's large concentration of high-value polymer producers," said Joe Martin, owner and chief executive office of Concepts West.

"The area's quality work force and proximity to our customers will allow Concepts West to continue its growth," Martin added.

The company will begin operations at the new facility immediately.

GC Services brings 300 new jobs
to Huntington, West Virginia

GC Services Limited Partnership, a Houston, Texas-based teleservices company, recently announced it will open a customer service call center in Huntington, West Virginia, creating as many as 300 new jobs.

The company employs nearly 5,000 people at 33 offices nationwide and provides services that include collections, mailing, personnel training, and facilities management to Fortune 500 companies such as General Motors, General Electric and Columbia HCA.

GC Services will locate in 22,000 square feet of leased space in the Denning Industrial Park, formerly occupied by the Kerr Company.

Frank A. Taylor, president and chief operating officer, stated that GC Services chose Huntington because of the available work force and assistance from local development organizations.

West Virginia's marketing efforts
focus on target industries

West Virginia's targeted industries are the focus of continuing marketing efforts at some of the nation's largest trade show events.

Delegations of state and local development officials participated in the Western Plastics Expo (WPE) in Chicago, the SAE Automotive Trade Show in Detroit and the National Poultry Expo in Atlanta. The marketing efforts, led by the West Virginia Development Office, are aimed at encouraging companies in these growing industries to locate or expand in West Virginia.

Plans are being finalized for the West Virginia Development Office to participate in the COMDEX trade show, April 20-23 in Chicago. COMDEX is one of the largest high-tech industry trade shows in the United States.

West Virginia receives top grades
from Education Week magazine

West Virginia scored the highest education marks in the nation for the second consecutive year in the "Quality Counts" report released by Education Week magazine.

The report is a comprehensive study of efforts to improve education in the nation's K-12 public schools. It grades states on standards and assessments, quality of teaching, school climate, and the adequacy, equity and allocation of resources.