New businesses on the way to Brooke County
The two pieces of property coming back to life are the former Wheeling Corrugating Plant, which is now the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, and the former Follansbee Steel site.
BROOKE COUNTY, W. Va. — Multiple companies are setting up shop in Brooke County.
The two pieces of property coming back to life are the former Wheeling Corrugating Plant, which is now the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, and the former Follansbee Steel site.
Two pieces of land that have a lot of history in their respective areas, and have since been remediated. Both are now ready to be the home of multiple companies moving to the region.
Pat Ford of the Business Development Corporation said the fruits of their labor are paying off at the Beech Bottom Industrial Park and the former Follansbee Steel site.
“We’ve probably spent to date upwards of $8 million in preparing those sites for industries to move in,” Ford said.
Three new businesses are leasing property, and are in the process of opening up shop.
“We already have a pipeline company, and also a trucking company moving into the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, and also, we’re proud to announce Southwestern Energy has (chosen) to invest in the former Follansbee Steel site in Follansbee,” Ford said.
Phoenix Trucking, Southwest Energy and Lineal Industries is just a portion of the trickledown effect the region has seen from oil and gas.
“Remember, there’s $49 billion of investment that is underway between Monaca, Pennsylvania and Dillies Bottom, Ohio,” Ford.
With the northern panhandle in between the two, Ford thinks the Ohio Valley is prime for growth.
“What’s exciting about activity; activity spurs more activity. It creates interest,” Ford said. “All of those businesses, whether it’s trucking, the metals or the energy, they’re all working together and they’re all feeding off of each other, and there’s a reason why they’re locating here, and that’s because that synergy exists in the Northern panhandle.”
He said the northern panhandle is now considered a major hub for the oil and gas industry.
“All of the economic indicators tells us that it’s not something we’re waiting for in the future,” Ford said. “It’s happening today, and we’re experiencing the benefits from it today.”