Unemployment rates in West Virginia for the first half of 1997 reached their lowest monthly levels in nearly two decades. May's rate of 5.8 percent was the lowest for any months of 1997 and the first below 6.0 percent since November 1978.

June's unemployment rate of 6.2 percent was the lowest for a June, and the second lowest for any month, since 1978.

Variform purchases Martinsburg
facility, starts expansion

Variform Inc., a PLY GEM Industries company, recently purchased the 158,000-square-foot Martinsburg, West Virginia, manufacturing facility it leased for over a decade.

Announcement of the purchase was made at PLY GEM'S annual stockholders' meeting in Martinsburg. The Kearney, Missouri-based company is the nation's third-largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of vinyl siding, soffit, skirting and accessories.

The facility, purchased from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority for $2.7 million, is undergoing an expansion. Upon completion of the project, Variform will employ 185 people at the facility.

West Virginia's international exports
up by 11 percent over 1995

According to recently released U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, 1996 international exports by West Virginia companies totalled $2.1 billion; up more than 11 percent from 1995.

West Virginia exports increased by 50 percent between 1993 and 1996, ranking the state fourth nationally in the percentage of manufactured goods and services it exports annually.

Ruskin Manufacturing brings
200 new jobs to Marion County

Ruskin Manufacturing, a manufacturer of high-quality air products, will open a new $6 million production facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, creating 200 new jobs.

The Kansas City, Missouri-based company will establish operations in a 172,000-square-foot facility near Interstate-79.

"As a customer-driven manufacturer, Ruskin knows the importance of location and a highly productive work force. West Virginia offers both of these keys necessary to satisfying customers' needs," said Tom Edwards, president of Ruskin Manufacturing.

The company is part of the Tomkins family of businesses, and supplies heating and cooling manufacturers such as York, Trane and Carrier.

West Virginia companies nominated
for SGPB Governor's Cup awards

Three West Virginia companies have been nominated for 1997 Governor's Cup awards, presented annually by the Southern Growth Policies Board (SGPB) to recognize outstanding examples of economic development by companies in the South.

South Charleston Stamping & Manufacturing of South Charleston, Beckley Graphics, Inc., of Beckley, and BFGoodrich Aerospace Aircraft Evacuation Systems of Spencer were nominated for the honor by Thomas C. Burns, executive director of the West Virginia Development Office.

Companies are selected for the Governor's Cup awards based on five categories: technological innovation, economic impact, global competitiveness, community involvement and human resources.

The Governor's Cup awards, given to companies in three size classifications, will be presented at the SGPB annual meeting in Hot Springs, Virginia, Sept. 7-9, 1997.

West Virginia coal most
valuable in United States

A recent National Mining Association study indicates West Virginia is the nation's top coal producer, when considering the value of coal mined.

West Virginia coal sold for more than $4.4 billion in 1995. Kentucky ranked second, with its coal selling for $3.8 billion.

"That reflects the excellent quality of West Virginia coal. We have always prided ourselves on having the best coal in the world. These numbers reflect that," said Ben Greene, president of the West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association.

BFGoodrich Aerospace announces
expansion of Roane County facility

The BFGoodrich Aerospace Evacuation Systems Division facility in Spencer, West Virginia, will begin a 30,000-square-foot expansion late this year, creating 50 new jobs.

The company manufactures evacuation slides and slide rafts for the commercial aircraft industry. A strong demand for slides and slide rafts from Boeing, Airbus and the industry sparked the need for the expansion, according to company spokesman Brayton Harris.

Although the company's main slide and raft manufacturing facility is in Phoenix, BFGoodrich Aerospace chose to expand in West Virginia.

"The work force in West Virginia is very good. You look for people you can count on," Harris said.

The Spencer facility was built in 1985 and employs 177 people.

Bell Atlantic chooses West Virginia
for new customer service center

Bell Atlantic recently announced it will open a new customer service center in Charleston, creating 200 new jobs.

The Bell Atlantic Welcome Center will help Bell Atlantic compete for new customers in the ever-growing and increasingly competitive telecommunications market. Employees at the $2.3 million downtown facility will verify credit information and addresses of new customers ordering telephone service from the company.

West Virginia was selected over New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia for the new center.

Bell Atlantic has 3,000 employees working in West Virginia. The company has helped bring nearly 13,000 teleservices jobs to West Virginia through the Office of the Future project.

Annual report highlights West Virginia's
continuing economic gains

The West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development will release its fiscal year 1997 annual report, confirming West Virginia's continuing economic upsurge, at the West Virginia Business Summit, Aug. 27-29, 1997.

The report states that investment in West Virginia neared $950 million for the first half of 1997, with the creation of 4,889 new jobs.

The 15-member council was created by the Legislature in 1992 to oversee the state's economic development efforts. Since its creation, new investments in West Virginia have increased by more than $3.4 billion.

Clinton has national town meeting
on education in West Virginia

President Clinton recently recognized West Virginia's outstanding advancements in education, selecting Clarksburg, West Virginia, as the site for a Presidential Town Meeting on Education Standards.

"I came here in part because of the great progress you are making in education," President Clinton told the audience of 160 people, which assembled in the Robert C. Byrd High School gymnasium for the historic event.

West Virginia showcased its increasing use of advanced technologies during the president's visit. This meeting was the first presidential presentation broadcast live over the Internet.

World's largest engineering plastics
production plant is in West Virginia

West Virginia is home to the world's largest engineering plastics production facility: DuPont's Washington Works. The Wood County facility, located in West Virginia's Polymer Alliance Zone, is DuPont's largest plant in the world, with approximately 2,500 employees and 700 contractors. DuPont is the world's largest chemical corporation, and the 10th largest company in the United States.