New Factory Coming to Ravenswood Area in 2012 (Charleston, Parkersburg: 2013, home)

[Two-Rivers]

In light of the recent national article about Ravenswood becoming a ghost town....

Armstrong World Industries, best known as Armstrong Flooring, will build a 30,000 sq. ft. plant on 18 acres near the currently closed Century Aluminum plant. 40-45 permanent jobs will be created when the plant opens. The plant will produce mineral wool, a raw material used in their ceiling tiles.

The hiring process will begin one year before the plant opens.

The Armstrong plant in Beverly, WV employs almost 700 workers, so I would say this represents a commitment to stay in WV.

"The West Virginia Development Office and Governor's Office have been instrumental in helping us understand the opportunity and value of locating our plant in Jackson County. We are confident this is the right place to build our new plant, and we are looking forward to getting started and building a bright future here in West Virginia," said Michael J. Connors, vice president of finance for Armstrong Building Products.
Mark Whitley, economic development director for Jackson County, said officials have been working with Armstrong since last May.
"They looked at many states and different sites and kept coming back to Jackson County," he said.
Whitley said Armstrong was attracted to the local area due to the availability of railroads and barges, as well as the proximity to its markets.
"It's wonderful news for Jackson County," he said.
Whitley said the county has also applied for $35 million in federal stimulus bond funds for the Armstrong plant project. Officials are hoping to capitalize on a federal economic stimulus package that authorizes the state to issue $130 million in tax-exempt bonds for private facilities and projects across West Virginia.

Competitive electric rates and the central location was also cited as a consideration in locating the plant in Jackson county.

Plant means jobs for Jackson - NewsandSentinel.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

[rod crowley]

Great!Hopefully this growth will continue.

[Silkdashocker]

Good to hear. I also continue to hear chatter that the aluminum smelter may open back up as well.

[Two-Rivers]

Same here Silkdashocker. When the plant closed, it was said that it would re-open when aluminum prices rose above $1-something. If I recall, the price has been above that for some time. Laid-off workers that I know are scratching their heads.

I suppose the company would have to be very sure, since it costs over $20 mil to restart that plant. And that was the cost given if it had only closed for three days.

[Two-Rivers]

Ground broken for Armstrong plant in Jackson County

Ground broken for Armstrong plant in Jackson - NewsandSentinel.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Manufacturing expected to begin by mid-2012


MILLWOOD - Ground was broken Monday in Jackson County to dedicate a manufacturing facility some hope will be a first step in turning around some of the economic hardships the area has faced over the past couple of years.


Local and state officials, including Gov. Joe Manchin, as well as officials from Armstrong World Industries, gathered at the Jackson County Maritime and Industrial Centre in Millwood for a dedication ceremony.


Armstrong is investing around $40 million into the project to build a state-of-the-art environmentally friendly mineral wool plant on a 35-acre piece of property bought from and adjacent to Century Aluminum Co., said Mark Whitley, Jackson County development director.


The plant is expected to be completed by September 2011 and will create 45 permanent jobs once the plant is completed and operational with the possibility of future expansion, Whitley said.
During construction, around 200 temporary construction jobs will be created.


(full story at the link)

[Chriscross309]

Yes this is very good news

The Spark-Plug Plant in Sissonsville is growing too and creating more jobs.
NGK to Add Jobs at Sissonville Plant (http://www.wsaz.com/charleston/headlines/101991488.html - broken link)

Also another Kanawha Valley Business expanding
IVS Hydro plans $10M capital investment* - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

[Two-Rivers]

I didn't even hear about IVS and their home base is here where I live.

[Retired Navy]

There is also a new National Guard Armory currently being constructed about a mile South of the Armstrong site on Rt2 on property purchased from the Eastern Star. I don't know that it will bring any significant employment opportunity but judging from the size and number of buildings under construction it appears that a lot of troops will be contributing to the local economy during drill weekends etc.

[jlsopher]

Can anyone tell me how to apply as a medical person for the new plant that is opening?When is the estimated opening planned?