September 2010 Open for Business report released

    CHARLESTON – Gov. Joe Manchin has released the latest “Open for Business” report documenting the state’s economic progress. The September 2010 report highlights projects and related announcements from businesses both large and small that will assist with the creation of new jobs and the preservation of existing jobs.

Eight West Virginia firms among Inc.’s 5,000 Fastest Growing
Inc. magazine’s fourth annual list of the top 5,000 fastest growing private companies includes eight from West Virginia. They are Cenergy (#392), in Milton, Cabell County; HMS Technologies (#638), in Martinsburg, Berkeley County; The McEvoy Administration (#764), in Inwood, Berkeley County; McKinley Carter Wealth Services (#1508), headquartered in Wheeling, Ohio County; Reliable Environmental Transport (#2426), in Bridgeport, Harrison County; Performance Results (#2642), in Morgantown, Monongalia County; KeyLogic Systems (#2715), in Morgantown, Monongalia County; and Advanced Technical Solutions (#3236), in Scott Depot, Putnam County.

Frontier Communications reports 250 jobs available in West Virginia
Frontier Communications announced it has about 250 jobs available in West Virginia. Most of the posted jobs are for technicians, but also include some sales and other support positions. Some positions specify terms such as up to 36 months; others are listed as full-time/regular. The openings appear in various locations across the state. Frontier purchased Verizon's land line telephone operations July 1. For more information, visithttp://corporate.frontier.com/Careers.

Hino Motors unveils 2011 model trucks at Wood County plant
Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Inc. brought out its 2011-model line of trucks with a celebration at its Williamstown plant. Gov. Joe Manchin joined other state and national officials as well as company executives at the Aug. 23 ceremony. The event heralded the commercial sales of the new 2011 model truck. The new Hino truck has a selective catalytic reduction system which converts much of the truck’s diesel emissions to nitrogen. The new model is the only medium duty conventional truck that meets Environmental Protection Agency requirements for diesel engine emissions.

West Virginia exports climb nearly 40 percent in first half of 2010
West Virginia’s exports reached $3 billion in the first half of 2010, an increase of 39.5 percent compared to the same time period in 2009. That outpaces the U.S. export growth rate of 23.8 percent for the same period. The top 10 markets for West Virginia exports during January-June 2010 are Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, China, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy and France. The product sector that achieved the biggest growth spurt was plastics/polymers, jumping more than 70 percent from the first half of 2009 to the same period in 2010. Increases were also reported in automotive components and machinery (63 percent each). The International Division of the West Virginia Development Office facilitates international trade development by organizing trade missions, providing consulting and offering other services to encourage West Virginia businesses to pursue export markets.

Paramount Pictures schedules Sept. 3-4 casting calls for film in Weirton area
Paramount Pictures announced it plans to shoot footage for a film titled “Wickham” in Weirton and surrounding areas from late September to mid-October. Casting calls for extras will be held starting at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 3, at the Jimmy Carey Stadium on West Street in Weirton; and on Sept. 4,at the Millsop Community Center, 3420 Main Street, Weirton, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prospective extras may apply only once and at only one casting call. Paramount is participating in the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, a tax credit program designed to recruit film industry business into the state. The West Virginia Film Office is a section under the West Virginia Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, and can be visited at www.wvfilm.com.

Statewide symposium examines science and sustainable economy, Sept. 27-28
Registration is now underway for the Science, Technology and Research Symposium at Marshall University. Held Sept. 27-28, the symposium will focus on West Virginia-based research and the importance of sustainable, technology-driven economic development. Held in Huntington for the first time, the symposium will showcase the work of the state’s scientists. To register, contact jessica.tice@wvresearch.org or call 304-558-4128.

Distributor plans $2 million warehouse expansion in Wayne County
House-Hasson Hardware plans a $2 million expansion to its warehouse in Prichard. The 100,000-square-foot addition will include new truck dock areas and improvements to the heating system. When the expansion is completed in January 2011, the facility will total 300,000 square feet. Based in Tennessee, House-Hasson is an independent regional hardware distributor serving 17 states, the Caribbean basin and several countries.

NASA IV&V to expand space for work force in Fairmont’s I-79 Technology Park
NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program plans to lease additional office space in the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont. The agency recently received approval to lease 33,380 square feet of office and related space. NASA IV&V was one of the original tenants in the Technology Park nearly 20 years ago. As the program grew, many contractors had to be located off site. The leased space will allow NASA to bring 135 members of the combined work force into one building this fall. The original facility will continue to serve many NASA civil-service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army project and contractor personnel.

MITRE opens office in Harrison County
The MITRE Corporation officially opened its office in Bridgeport with a ribbon cutting ceremony in August. The site is located in the White Oaks Business Park and houses 10 technical and administrative staff. MITRE had operated in a temporary office in Clarksburg since 2008. MITRE is a not-for-profit organization that provides systems engineering, research and development, and information technology support to the government. It operates federally funded research and development centers for the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Simonton Windows® Takes Top Honors in Two J.D. Power Rankings
For the third consecutive time, Simonton Windows® has ranked highest in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton Windows also captured the highest rating by consumers in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton Windows is part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Based in Parkersburg, Wood County, Simonton operates seven manufacturing facilities nationwide, including three in Ritchie County.

RCBI marks 20th anniversary in tech training and manufacturing
The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) celebrated its 20th anniversary with an open house and graduation ceremony in Bridgeport. For the first time, the RCBI Machinist Technology Program graduation combined students from RCBI courses in Bridgeport, Huntington, Wheeling and Rocket Center. Graduates received National Certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. The open house featured seminars, demonstrations and technology displays from machine tool vendors and equipment suppliers from across the region. The current RCBI class started courses on Aug. 23 in Huntington, Bridgeport, Rocket Center and Wheeling.

WVU receives $6.5 million grant for study to detect gravitational waves
West Virginia University has received a $6.5 million grant to establish an international team to research gravitational waves. The grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering and the Division of Astronomical Sciences as part of the Partnerships for International Research and Education program. The gravitational waves are a key prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity but have not yet been directly detected. The international team will use a series of radio telescopes around the world, including those in Green Bank, W.Va., to observe signals from pulsars over several years. This effort will enable the scientists to directly test for the existence of gravitational waves. According to the project’s principal investigator, WVU’s Maura McLaughlin, the direct detection of gravitational waves could enable studies of black holes within massive galaxies and the space-time dynamics of early stages of the universe.

WVEDA approves $2.2 million for three businesses in Harrison and Monongalia counties
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) approved loans totaling $2,259,000 for three businesses during its August meeting:
• Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex, $700,000 to finance the acquisition of a hanger/warehouse facility at Benedum Airport, Bridgeport, Harrison County. The facility will be leased to Aurora Flight Sciences. Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex is a non-profit economic development organization that promotes the aerospace industry in West Virginia. Aurora Flight Sciences develops, markets and operates a new generation of robotic aircraft. Currently, Aurora Flight Sciences employs 108 people and projects an increase to 139 after three years.
• Protea Biosciences Inc., $900,000 to purchase and install analytical testing equipment at its facility in Morgantown, Monongalia County. Protea develops new technologies that improve direct analysis of proteins and other biomolecules. Currently the firm has 34 employees and expects to expand to 71 posts — nine of which would be directly related to this expansion project – after three years.
• White Oaks Professional Building One Inc., $659,000 to finance a new building in Clarksburg, Harrison County. The building will be leased as the headquarters of EQT Corporation an oil and gas exploration firm. The building will serve as the headquarters for EQT geologists and field personnel working in the Marcellus Shale formation.

State releases list of West Virginia's Top 100 private employers - Wal-Mart remains No. 1

    CHARLESTON — WorkForce West Virginia’s list of the 100 largest private employers, compiled from data for the first quarter 2010, ranks retail giant Wal-Mart as the state’s largest employer. Wal-Mart has maintained this position since 1998.

    The list, released today, contains businesses with both single and multiple locations and ranks companies according to the number of employees. The data are extracted from the Quarterly Contributions Report for the first quarter of each year and are available to the public by the third quarter of each year.

    West Virginia’s top five largest private employers are Wal-Mart, West Virginia United Health System, Charleston Area Medical Center, Kroger, and American Electric Power, all unchanged from 2009.

    Several employers in the top 10 have shifted positions, and two employers not found in the top 10 last year now make an appearance. These new additions are Res-Care, Inc. and Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

    The top 10 employers in total had 143 fewer employees in the past year, faring well when compared to the total for all private sector employment in the state which declined nearly 17,000 from the first quarter 2009 to the first quarter 2010. The sum employment of the top 100 employers declined by just over 4,400 from March 2009. Analysis of all private employers by size indicated all size groups except the group employing 500 to 999 people lost both units and employment over the past year.

    Just over one-half of employers on the top 100 list climbed in rank, while nearly a quarter of businesses descended in rank. Six employers not present on last year’s top 100 made their appearance on this year’s list.

    This list was prepared from information provided by employers covered under the unemployment compensation insurance system, through the federal/state Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Program conducted in West Virginia by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor and the Research, Information and Analysis Division of WorkForce West Virginia.

    The lists for the state and counties for each year since 1999 and workforce investment areas since 2002 can be found on the website: www.workforcewv.org/lmi or by contacting the Research, Information and Analysis Division at 304.558.2660.

The 2010 Top 100 list

1. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.
2. West Virginia United Health System
3. Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc.
4. Kroger
5. American Electric Power
6. Consolidation Coal Company
7. Lowe's Home Centers, Inc.
8. St. Mary's Hospital
9. Res-Care, Inc.
10. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
11. Cabell Huntington Hospital, Inc.
12. Wheeling Hospital, Inc.
13. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation of West Virginia
14. Mentor Management, Inc. (Mentor Network, The)
15. Verizon
16. E I DuPont De Nemours & Company
17. Rite Aid of West Virginia, Inc.
18. Allegheny Energy Service Corporation
19. West Virginia University Medical Co. (University Health Associates)
20. Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
21. Mountaineer Park, Inc.
22. Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
23. Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital
24. Monongalia General Hospital
25. West Virginia's Choice, Inc.
26. K Mart Corporation
27. Aker Construction, Inc.
28. DOLGENCORP, Inc. (Dollar General Stores)
29. Herbert J Thomas Memorial Hospital Association
30. Greenbrier Hotel Corporation
31. BB&T Corporation
32. PNGI Charles Town Gaming, Ltd.
33. GMRI, Inc.
34. Go-Mart, Inc. 34 43 44
35. Teletech Customer Care Management (West Virginia), Inc.
36. Raleigh General Hospital, LLC
37. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
38. Dominion Transmission, Inc. 3
39. Spartan Mining Company
40. Hobet Mining, LLC
41. Employee Resource Group, LLC
42. Cabela's, Inc.
43. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.
44. Elk Run Coal Company, Inc. (Black Castle Mining Company)
45. Alcan Rolled Products
46. Weirton Medical Center
47. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation
48. Heartland Employment Services, LLC
49. United Parcel Service Inc. (WV District)
50. Wheeling Island Gaming, Inc.
51. J C Penney Company, Inc.
52. Asplundh Tree Expert Company
53. Simonton Building Products, Inc.
54. Little General Store, Inc.
55. Highmark West Virginia, Inc. (Mountain State Blue Cross and Blue Shield)
56. Ohio Valley Medical Center, Inc.
57. Wesbanco Bank, Inc.
58. Gino's/Tudors Biscuit World
59. Homer Laughlin China Company
60. Huntington Alloys Corporation
61. ArcelorMittal Weirton, Inc.
62. Acordia/Wells Fargo Third Party Administrator, Inc.
63. Food Lion, LLC
64. Gabriel Brothers, Inc.
65. United National Bank
66. Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Inc.
67. Sears, Roebuck and Company
68. Prestera Center for Mental Health Services
69. McDonalds Restaurants of West Virginia, Inc.
70. Advance Stores Company, Inc.
71. Snowshoe Mountain, Inc.
72. Appalachian Regional Healthcare
73. Alex Energy, Inc. (Intrepid Mining Company)
74.  GC Services Limited Partnership
75. TRG Customer Solutions
76. City National Bank of Charleston
77. Sunhealth Specialty Services, Inc.
78. St. Joseph's Healthcare System (St. Joseph's Hospital)
79. DirectTV Customer Service, Inc.
80. Charleston Hospital, Inc. (Saint Francis Hospital)
81. Pleasant Valley Hospital, Inc.
82. Universal Cable Holdings/Suddenlink
83. Quad/Graphics, Inc.
84. Alcon Research, Ltd
85. Mountain State University, Inc.
86. Logan General Hospital, LLC
87. Owner's Solution, Inc. (Personnel Management Company)
88. Echosphere, LLC
89. Davis Memorial Hospital
90. Capital Area Services Company, Inc. (CASCI)
91. Target Corporation
92. Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company
93. Babcock & Wilcox Construction Company, Inc.
94. University Physicians & Surgeons
95. Wendy's International, Inc.
96. OS Restaurant Services, Inc. (Outback Steakhouse)
97.  Speedway Superamerica, LLC
98. American Woodmark Corporation
99. Racing Corporation of West Virginia
100. Global Contact Services, LLC 100 91 89