L&M Logistics Inc. moving into Beech Bottom Industrial Park, creating more than 40 jobs

L&M Logistics Inc. moving into Beech Bottom Industrial Park, creating more than 40 jobsPosted: Feb 10, 2014 3:06 PM ESTUpdated: Feb 10, 2014 3:06 PM EST By Linda Harris, Legal Reporter&nbsp Courtesy of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle A company providing vehicular escorts for oil and gas-related companies in a three-state area will use the old corrugating plant in Beech Bottom, now an industrial park, as its operations base. L&M Logistics Inc. is leasing a two-acre parcel to house its fleet vehicles, along with office space for support services, creating 40-50 jobs initially. “We were contacted by L&M Logistics about four weeks ago and asked if we could make room to accommodate L&M Logistics on our site in Beech Bottom,” said Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle. “Since time was of the essence, and they needed to be out of their previous facility by Feb. 2, we needed to act quickly. “Thanks to the cooperation of our current tenants and staff on site, we were able to accommodate them.” Ford said L&M is the park’s fifth tenant, the third with interests in the oil and gas industry. The company services shale interests in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. “It bodes well for us in our efforts to take advantage of the growth in the oil and gas industry in the Ohio River Valley,” Ford said. “What’s nice, the way I’m looking at it, is that a lot of the major drilling hasn’t occurred yet in Brooke and Hancock counties, so the growth we’re seeing the impact from relates to the drilling region moving closer. “As it moves closer, we’re going to see more of these types of tenants and more jobs being created in Brooke and Hancock counties.” The BDC operates the industrial park in partnership with Hackman Capital, a Los Angeles company that specializes in buying industrial properties and industrial equipment. Hackman had purchased the 650-acre Beech Bottom property out of bankruptcy, but, because of legacy issues, needed a grant-eligible partner to assume environmental risks. After acquiring the property Hackman promptly sold the land to the BDC for $200,000, retaining rights only to the building and equipment. “Our acquisition of the former Wheeling Corrugating Plant in Beech Bottom has created tremendous opportunities for the BDC to realize a vision to begin filling the void left by the bankruptcy of RG Steel, formerly Wheeling Corrugating, and the closing of Follansbee Steel,” Ford said. “With our acquisition just over a year ago, we are methodically bringing jobs back into Brooke County and, in fact, even putting people back to work who used to work at the plant.” Since taking over the property, the BDC and Hackman have landed Profoam, Integrity Kokosing, Jupiter Aluminum and a non-profit, A Child’s Place CASA, as tenants. L&M Logistics President Dave Kovach, meanwhile, expects his company, headquartered in Carmichaels, Pa., to grow. “When we’re all ramped up we should have 50 units in there,” he said. “It just depends on what our customer base requires, we’ll put in whatever we need.”