Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100045
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Allen praised the team effort that led to the expansion. That's what's needed to get and keep industry interested in Virginia, he said, crediting the county and Blacksburg governments, regional economic development efforts and the Wolverine work force.
"The state government can't do it alone," Allen said. "You have to have forward thinking, positive thinking and constructive thinking" from local governments.
Including the state's gift from the Governor's Opportunity Fund, Wolverine will receive more than $405,000 in incentives to expand on a 13-acre site behind its plant in the Blacksburg Industrial Park. With 25 new jobs expected by 1996 and perhaps an additional 30 by 1998, the state, county and town teamed up to provide an offer that is likely the largest incentive package ever given to a Montgomery County business.
Among the incentives: a road with curb and gutters to extend to the site, which is actually located in the county just outside the town's corporate limits; water and sewer extensions; money to pay half the cost of the land itself; and funds for training the work force.
Allen said persuading Wolverine to expand here, instead of Florida, Michigan, Germany or elsewhere, is a coup.
"Wolverine has a solid record of growth. It's good news for Blacksburg and Montgomery County and all of Southwest Virginia," Allen said during the morning ceremony held inside the plant.
"This will enable more Montgomery County families to enhance their quality of life," said Larry Linkous, chairman of the county's Board of Supervisors.
Linkous praised Allen's "Opportunity Virginia" plan, which aims to coordinate a greater effort to attract and retain businesses for the state. Allen later cited Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corp.'s expansion in Pulaski County as an example of his commitment to helping the New River's Valley's business development efforts.
He said having various companies that produce products for a single industry in the same general area helps entice even more like-focused companies to the region.
"That's a continuing success," Allen said of the New River Valley's automotive industry companies. "There is a synergy ... to having all these different types of companies. It helps everyone else."
"You ought to move your [corporate] headquarters here, too," Allen joked to Wolverine Plant Manager Al Guarino.
Wolverine is owned by Cincinnati's Eagle-Picher Industries, and has built gaskets, brake compressors and other noise-control products for the automotive industry in its Blacksburg plant since it opened in 1973. It employs about 300 workers.
by CNB