Local economy on upswing COMMUNITY, RETAIL and FINANCIAL SERVICES
FRIDAY, FEB. 9, 2018
PROGRESS II - SECTION A
Contributed
P i e t r o F i o r e n t i n i b r o k e g r o u n d i n J u n e f o r i t s n e w f a c i l i t y i n We i r t o n a t t h e T h r e e S p r i n g s Bu s i n e s s P a r k . T h e $ 5 . 5 m i l l i o n p l a n t, s h o w n h e r e i n a n a r t i st ’ s r e n d e r i n g , w i l l m a n u f a c t u r e p r e s s u r e r e g u l a t o r s a n d v a l v e s , a s w e l l a s p r e s su r e r e d u c i n g a n d me t e r i n g s y s t e m s , for the na tu r al ga s i nd u s tr y. Th e re wi l l b e up to 45 jo b s c re a ted u p o n the co mpl e tio n o f its fi rs t p ha se , w i th u p to 77 ad d i tio n al job s i n fu tu re ph a ses.
Oil and gas industry pumping up the region By MARK LAW Staff writer Area communities are seeing a resurgence in economic development activity related to the oil and gas industry. Companies making equipment or providing services to those companies have been opening businesses in the region. Weirton saw two companies invest money in facilities in the city in 2017. Ground was broken in June for the new Pietro Fiorentini facility in Weirton. The facility is being constructed on 26.4 acres of land located in the Three Springs Business Park. The $5.5 million plant will manufacture pressure regulators and valves, as well
as pressure reducing and metering systems, for the natural gas industry. There will be up to 45 jobs created upon the completion of its first phase, with up to 77 additional jobs planned in future phases. It is expected to open in early summer. An investment of more than $3 million was unveiled in September, when Bidell Gas Compression hosted an open house to showcase the renovations being undertaken at its new home in the north end of Weirton. The 100,000-square-foot building at 1400 Main St., formerly used as a machine shop by ArcelorMittal Steel and its predecessors, is set to begin production of the company’s
gas compressor systems. The facility has 34 workers, but hopes to add another 100 by the end of the year. Weirton Mayor Harold Miller said he knew Pietro Fiorentini’s option on the land was going to expire, so an effort was made with the help of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle and state officials to get the project moving. He said Pietro Fiorentini and Bidell sparked an interest for other business development in the city. City Manager Travis Blosser said there have been businesses opening up on Three Springs Drive, adding the Three Springs Crossing is nearly full. “We took an aggressive
position on economic development,” Miller said. He said the city is located close to transportation opportunities, including river, railroad, highway and the Pittsburgh International Airport. “We have things that attract people. We have made a list of assets as a community and are pushing it,” Miller said. Miller said having Mark A. Miller as the city’s planning and development director in the City Building every day has made a positive impact on attracting businesses. Blosser said it is a team effort of city departments to attract businesses. “Working collaboratively has significantly increased our success,”
Blosser said. “All of us working together is making it happen.” Miller said the future marketing of 1,300 acres of land at Frontier Group of Cos. at the former ArcelorMittal plant is the next step in economic development in the city. Blosser said a master plan for use of the property is in the works. In Jefferson County, county Commissioner Thomas Graham said economic development is moving forward in the county. He said the county is running out of space at the industrial park off county Road 43 outside Wintersville. He said officials are exploring grant opportunities to develop more land near the park so more See UPSWING Page 3A Á