CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rebecca McPhail, the President of the West Virginia Manufacturing Association (WVMA) says her association is excited about the expansion of manufacturing in the Mountain State following recent economic announcements during the first week of the regular legislative session.
On Wednesday, Nucor Corp. out of North Carolina announced it selected Mason County as the location for a state-of-the-art sheet steel mill. State officials said the record investment will exceed $2.7 billion, making it the largest in West Virginia history, as well as the largest single investment Nucor has ever made.
McPhail told MetroNews the announcements can change the direction of West Virginia’s economy.
“The economic impact of these kinds of manufacturing projects is tremendous for our state. The historic nature of the Nucor investment is something we are excited about and eager to see come to fruition,” she said.
In a separate announcement but on the same day, GreenPower Motor Company Inc. announced the signing of an agreement with the state to lease/purchase a 9.5-acre manufacturing facility in South Charleston. The deal includes an 80,000-square-foot building, where the company will produce the school buses.
The GreenPower operation will bring up to 200 new jobs to the state when manufacturing begins later this year, with the potential workforce to eventually reach up to 900 new jobs when full production is reached in 24 months.
MetroNews previously reported that upon completion, the Nucor mill is expected to create about 800 manufacturing jobs. Construction of the state-of-the-art facility, which will begin in 2022, is expected to create an additional 1,000 jobs. Nucor employs 28,000 people at about 300 facilities located primarily in North America.
McPhail said many states, including West Virginia, have their workforce challenges but does not foresee them here. She noted that the Nucor positions offer impressive opportunities such as pay around $90,000 a year with benefits.
“There are always workforce challenges but I think the types of jobs that the two companies announced manufacturing operations will bring to the Mountain State ones that are highly sought after,” McPhail said.
McPhail added her members want to continue to bring down the barriers that may have created those challenges. She wants to work during the legislative session on anything that creates a more competitive environment for manufacturing in the state.
“It absolutely is a springboard and shows the outside world that West Virginia is open for business and serious about growing a diverse economy,” she said of the announcements.
Also on her agenda is expanding the energy portfolio in West Virginia and promoting advanced recycling, including plastics.