West Virginia achieves record
numbers in jobs and investments

Governor Cecil H. Underwood recently reported that West Virginia’s 1998 job creation and investment totals have exceeded those of 1997.

The total for job creation in 1998 stands at 10,595, as compared to just over 9,600 in 1997. Investment during 1998 totaled $1.263 billion. In 1997, investment totaled $1.036 billion.

“This report confirms that West Virginia is moving in the right direction,” Gov. Underwood said. “Employers are recognizing the advantages of doing business in West Virginia. They appreciate the quality of our work force, our proximity to major markets, our affordable energy and our quality of life.”

Expansions of existing operations have resulted in the creation of 6,061 new jobs during 1998. Operations new to the state have created the remaining 4,534 jobs.

Swiss ambassador hosts
West Virginia delegation

Governor Cecil H. Underwood recently led a delegation to the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., for meetings with Swiss Ambassador Alfred Defago and several business leaders from Switzerland.

During the meetings, West Virginia’s delegation, consisting of representatives of the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development and the West Virginia Development Office, explored mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities with the Swiss business officials.

West Virginia plans
1999 trade events

The West Virginia Development Office plans to conduct several trade events in 1999 to promote West Virginia and its products and services in various markets throughout the world.

The following trade events are currently planned:

February 11 - 21
Trade Mission to India: New Delhi and Calcutta

March 20 - 27
Trade Mission to South America: Peru and Venezuela

March 18 - April 11
Ideal Home Show: London, England

April 27 - May 5
Natural Resources Dealmaker & CIM Tradex ’99: Canada

May 17 - 21
Trade Mission to Taiwan and Hong Kong

June 15 - 16
RepCan 99: Toronto, Canada

September 1 - 10
China Coal & Mining Exhibition: Beijing, China

October 3 - 9
Trade Mission to Germany

Researcher predicts economic
growth for West Virginia

A West Virginia University researcher predicts solid growth in West Virginia’s economy from 1998 to 2003. Dr. George Hammond, research assistant professor with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at WVU, predicts an average of 7,800 jobs will be added to the economy each of those years.

In 1998, the state added 10,595 jobs. Hammond’s report, “West Virginia Economic Outlook 1999,” also predicts a 0.1 percent per year growth rate in the state’s population over the same period.

The researcher labels the report positive.

“It is pretty good news - if the U.S. economy avoids recession over the next couple of years. The West Virginia economy will still continue to add jobs; we’ll continue to increase our standard of living but our unemployment rate and population are forecast to stabilize around current levels.”

Agreement signed at Industries
of the Future Symposium

An insulating material made from coal - carbon foam - got a boost at the “Industries of the Future Symposium - West Virginia” on December 9 in Morgantown.

Gov. Cecil H. Underwood, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the U.S. Department of Energy and West Virginia University signed an agreement sponsoring research and development into uses of and applications for the material.

A crowd of 150 people attended the symposium, which gathered representatives from the state’s aluminum, steel, glass, chemical, wood and metal casting industries.

They continued last year’s efforts to plan technology-intensive projects that will help them stay strong in the global economy of the future.

“Industries of the Future - West Virginia” is the state-level version of a national program developed through the U.S. Department of Energy by the Office of Industrial Technologies, which has selected West Virginia as the pilot state.

The program is a catalyst for projects, partnerships and programs that increase energy efficiency, reduce and utilize waste materials and improve industrial productivity.

Main Street communities
join "Rebuild West Virginia"

“Rebuild West Virginia,” offered through the West Virginia Development Office’s Energy Efficiency Program, will make 600,000 square feet of commercial space in West Virginia more energy efficient.

Kingwood, Philippi, Morgantown and Ripley, all West Virginia Main Street communities, joined the program, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Rebuild America” program.

Polymer Alliance Zone
company announces expansion

West Virginia Polymers announced plans for a 38,000-square-foot expansion at its facility at the Jackson County Maritime and Industrial Centre.

The company specializes in toll compounding - the process of converting materials into plastic pellets for use in other products.

The expansion was announced at the second annual Polymer Alliance Zone meeting.

The Polymer Alliance Zone spans Jackson, Mason and Wood counties and represents the world’s largest concentration of high technology, specialty and engineering polymer production.

Education report puts West Virginia
at the head of the class

Some numbers that add up to good news for West Virginia: West Virginia students graduate from high school at a rate of 91 percent.

The annual report of the National Education Goals Panel also shows that 99 percent of public secondary school teachers in the state who have a teaching certificate have one in their primary teaching subject area.

The report also documents a significant increase in the number of fourth-graders up to par in their math skills. And high schoolers are getting in fewer fights: 13 percent reported involvement in physical fights on school property, the next-to-the-lowest state figure.

Toyota and West Virginia make
the world's best engines

The first engines are rolling off the assembly line at Toyota’s Putnam County engine plant.

Toyota Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda, Gov. Cecil H. Underwood and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller visited the plant December 10 for a special ceremony commemorating this important milestone.

While the first engines are being produced with parts from domestic and international suppliers, the plant soon will produce major engine components, including the engine block, head, camshaft, connecting rod and crankshaft.

When fully operational, the $900 million plant will employ 800 people to assemble four- and six-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions.

Toyota plans to begin construction of the transmission plant this spring and start production in 2001.

Morgantown firm makes list
of fastest-growing companies

Azimuth, Inc., a Morgantown-based provider of electronics and software engineering support services, was named to Inc. magazine’s list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in America.

Azimuth won its ranking as 387th on the Inc. 500 list by reporting sales that grew from $969,000 in 1993 to $8.5 million in 1997, an increase of 780 percent.

To make the Inc. 500 list, an independent and privately held company must have had sales of at least $200,000 in 1993 and a five-year sales history Including an increase in 1997 sales over 1996 sales.

Craig Hartzell, senior vice president of the company with 92 employees in Fairmont, Morgantown and six sites in other states, said the company wants to open more West Virginia offices.

Money available for improving
manufacturers' competitive position

Small and medium-sized manufacturers interested in quality system certification, computer training, hidden cost assessment or improving their competitive position in other ways can tap into a grant through the West Virginia Development Office.

The Competitive Improvements Project funded by $250,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission begins January 1, 1999, and will match companies dollar for dollar on training projects.

Similar programs have helped companies attain ISO-9000, QS-9000 and AS-9000 certification. Through those programs, the Development Office has established relationships with the Robert C. Byrd Institute, Jefferson Community College and other private consultants that provide the necessary classwork for certification.

HUBCO in Wheeling, Jamegy, Inc., in New Cumberland and SAL Chemical Company, Inc. in Weirton all have received such certification through Development Office funding.

Companies interested in the training grant may contact Todd Hooker of the Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program at 1-800-982-3386.

Preston County builds state's
third-largest industrial park

Preston County economic development officials joined forces with the West Virginia Development Office and the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help the business climate in their part of the state.

In an October ceremony, the Preston County Economic Development Authority broke ground for the Northpointe Business & Industry Park. Existing wood products industries are clustered near the 287-acre site near Interstate 68.

The Preston County Economic Development Authority touts the park’s location within 500 miles of two-thirds of the American industrial and consumer markets and its willing labor force.

The park’s builders hope to attract jobs for the area’s available labor force as well as the 39 percent of Preston Countians who work outside the county.

Holly Childs is executive director of the Preston County Economic Development Authority and may be reached at (304) 329-0576 or via e-mail at hchilds@access.mountain.net