Governor
Releases January "Open for Business" Report
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov.
Joe Manchin today released the latest “Open
for Business” report documenting the
state’s economic progress. The January
2007 report highlights projects and related
announcements that will assist with the creation
of new jobs and the preservation of a significant
number of existing jobs.
Customer
services center to bring 700 jobs to Huntington
A company that specializes in outsourced customer
management services plans to open a service
center near Huntington that will employ 700
by June. PRC will hire 100 people to start
in January, then hire an additional 100 workers
every three weeks until it reaches 700, said
Bob Johnson, PRC's talent acquisition manager.
PRC will open its inbound call center in the
former Arch Coal building. An experienced,
available workforce and "the readiness
of the building played a big part" in
PRC’s move to the area, Johnson said.
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Morgantown
facility is world’s first internationally
accredited biometrics lab
The National Biometric Security Project announced that its Test, Research and Data Center in Morgantown, W.Va., has earned ISO/IEC 17025 certification. The accreditation makes NBSP the only ISO-accredited biometrics laboratory in the world. The accreditation covers performance testing, conformance testing, and custom testing programs. The ISO accreditation will enable NBSP to begin commercial Qualified Products List testing, said NBSP Chairman and CEO John Siedlarz. NBSP is a not-for-profit organization that provides independent evaluations of biometrics technology.
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Weyerhaeuser installs $25 million OSB press
Weyerhaeuser Company is investing $25 million in its Sutton plant to replace its old press with a new Dieffenbacher Oriented Strand Board (OSB) press. The heaviest component of the new press weighs 206,000 pounds and measures 13 feet wide by 25 feet long. Approximately 150 contractors and all of the mill's 185 employees worked on the installation project. Weyerhaeuser Company is one of the world's largest integrated forest products companies. It has offices or operations in 18 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities.
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Division of Coast Guard relocates to Martinsburg
Personnel from the Mariner Services Division
of the U.S. Coast Guard now will oversee the
nation’s ports and waterways from its new
location in the Eastern Panhandle. The division,
which was displaced by Hurricane Katrina,
will be located in the Burr Industrial Park
in Kearneysville until its permanent headquarters
is constructed in Martinsburg. The Mariner
Services Division will add 80 jobs to the
business park’s more than 125,000-square feet
of office space. Although West Virginia generally
is not considered a maritime state, ”Technology
makes West Virginia a maritime state,” said
Rear Adm. Brian Salerno. “From here the Coast
Guard ensures fast, accurate documentation,
security checks and medical review for over
a quarter million U.S. merchant mariners.”
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West Virginia Small Business Development Center helps 207 clients in December
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (SDBC) provided 380 hours of counseling and training to 207 clients last month. The SDBC has provided 1,665 hours of counseling and training to 847 clients this fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, helping to create or retain 88 jobs. SDBC staff trained 97 people at 13 events in December and trained 460 people this fiscal year. Two loans totaling $181,500 were approved in December. Twelve loans totaling nearly $1.8 million have been approved fiscal year-to-date. New customer satisfaction was 100 percent in December and for the year.
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Martinsburg
firm wins place in federal contract pool
A Martinsburg company was one of more than
40 service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses
awarded a U.S. General Services Administration
government-wide contract potentially worth
$5 billion during the next several years.
HMS Technologies now will compete for federal
procurements under the awarded contract, formally
known as the Veterans Technology for Services
(VETS) Government-wide Acquisition Contract
(GWAC). HMS Technologies was the only West
Virginia firm qualified to provide information
technology services to various federal agencies,
said company president and CEO Harry M. Siegal.
HMS is a client of the Small Business Development
Center of the Blue Ridge Community and Technical
College in Martinsburg.
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Wheeling
Island Racetrack plans $8 million expansion
Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center
has announced plans for an $8 million expansion.
The project, expected to be completed by June
2007, will add 16,000 square feet to the gaming
facility. The buffet kitchen also will be
expanded, and a covered walkway constructed.
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Rentech and MCRA plan to develop clean fuels plant
The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority (MCRA) in Williamson, W.Va., and Rentech Inc. have joined to develop a Fischer-Tropsch clean fuels plant in Mingo County, W.Va. The project would convert synthesis gas produced from West Virginia coal into ultra-clean transportation fuels. MCRA and Rentech plan to jointly develop, finance, own and operate the project, which is expected to produce three to nine million barrels a year of the ultra clean fuels for use in the Mingo County region. The first phase of the project calls for a 60-day due diligence period, beginning the first week of January 2007, to determine project viability.
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Verizon continues to expand high-speed Internet access throughout West Virginia
Verizon Communications Corp. has added digital subscriber line Internet service to its Gauley Bridge and Walton, W.Va., markets. Upgrades to Verizon telephone switching centers in the two towns have made the service available to people living near the centers. Verizon plans to upgrade 15 switching centers across West Virginia for DSL service by early 2007. Its DSL service is available in more than 227 locations across the state, and the company plans to push that number up to 350 this year.
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New tech group networks for future of region
A newly formed network of Martinsburg business professionals met for the first time in December to discuss ways to advance high-tech business in the region. The technology group is sponsored by the Gateway New Economy Council and has set a follow-up session for January. The business people discussed opportunities afforded by the Shepherd University Research Corporation (SURC), the possibility of hosting a forum on ways to acquire federal contracting opportunities locally and a map of the area’s resources.
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Hunters harvest
16 percent more bucks than last year
The Division of Natural Resources reported
that hunters harvested almost 65,841 bucks
during the two-week firearm season Nov. 20
– Dec. 2. That's up nearly 16 percent
from last year, said Paul Johansen, assistant
wildlife chief for the state DNR. He said
the increase is a sign that West Virginia's
deer population is healthy and doesn't exceed
the land's capacity. Preston County saw the
most deer harvested with 26,000. Hunting and
fishing have an estimated annual economic
impact of $710 million in West Virginia.
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West Virginia
Economic Development Authority approves Leslie
Equipment expansion loan
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority
granted preliminary approval for a $2 million
loan to Leslie Equipment Co. for expansion.
The company plans a 35,840 square feet sales,
parts and service facility in Cross Lanes,
Kanawha County. Leslie Equipment has operations
in Cowen, Beaver, Fairmont and Norton in West
Virginia, as well as locations in Kentucky
and Ohio. The company carries John Deere equipment,
parts and accessories for use in highway construction,
general excavation and logging operations.
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West Virginia
American Water invested $16.7 million in improvements
in 2006
During 2006, the state’s largest water
utility company invested $16.7 million in
infrastructure improvements and line expansions
in 2006. West Virginia American Water Co.
provides services to approximately 25 percent
of the state’s populace.
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