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Several development-related news items from Braxton County have been garnering state and national attention of late. The local Weyerhaeuser Oriented Strand Board plant marked the establishment of a benchmark in production--43,000,000 square feet of product produced! January brought the opening of Harpeth Resources Group, Inc. The firm, which opened with a $3.5 million contract to produce ready-to-assemble hardwood furniture, is expected to reach $16 million in sales during its first year of operation. During the same period, Braxton County was certified by the State of West Virginia as a certified business location.

Weyerhaeuser Eastern Oriented Strand Board Plant
Surpasses Production Goal

Weyerhaeuser's Eastern Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Plant, located in Braxton County, set a company production record in the facility's first full year of operation, yielding 43 million square feet of OSB and accounting for $50 million in sales for 1997.

"The community has been very supportive of our facility, and we have found the work ethic among our employees to be great," noted David Craft, General Manager at Weyerhaeuser's local facility.

Harpeth Resources Group, Inc. Opens
Braxton County's Newest Manufacturing Facility

State and local officials and members of the Braxton County Development Authority Friday, January 29 for a brief dedication ceremony at the county's newest industrial site, a hardwood furniture manufacturing facility. The company, Harpeth Resources Group, Inc., has established operations in a 65,000 square foot plant on Herold Road near Sutton.

The firm produces ready-to-assemble furniture which will be distributed by national furniture retailers, mass merchandisers and major home centers. The products feature a water-based stain developed by Sherwin-Williams which replaces conventional solvent-based stains, making them more environmentally friendly.

A partnership between local community and economic development organizations provided the necessary working capital for Harpeth Resources Group, Inc. to secure a $3.5 million purchase order from Sam's Wholesale Clubs. The BCDA provided "bridge" loans for the company and assisted in packaging the balance of the financing. The Central Appalachian Empowerment Zone of West Virginia and Mountain CAP of West Virginia each extended loans for working capital.

"Braxton County provides our company with a terrific advantage because of its location in the heart of the world-renowned Appalachian hardwood belt," explained Mike Metheny, president of Harpeth Resources Group, Inc. "We set a goal of $7 million in sales for the first year, but we're looking conservatively at $16 million."

While management at Harpeth Resources Group, Inc. had hoped to produce 500 units during their first week of operation, workers there actually completed 650 in what Metheny characterized as an abbreviated week.

Acceptance of the firm's products has been excellent, according to the owners, and that factor leads them to estimate that they will expand the work force at the plant to two shifts within its first year of operation.

Governor Proclaims Braxton County
A Certified Development Community

Representatives of the Governor's Office met with local officials and members of the Braxton County Development Authority Friday, January 29 for a brief ceremony in which the county was proclaimed the state's 38th  "Certified Development Community".

"It is imperative that communities do all they can to continue improving economic growth throughout West Virginia," noted Nicholas "Corky" DeMarco, Assistant to the Governor, Operations, in presenting BCDA chairman Richard Minnich with a special plaque commemorating the county's achievement. "It is my pleasure to officially congratulate the people of Braxton County, on behalf of the Governor, for going the extra mile to achieve Certified Development Community status."

Recognition as a Certified Development Community includes the placement of special highway signs at the county's borders that identify the area as being well suited for consideration by prospective businesses. The county also receives preference by the West Virginia Development Office for sites and buildings in the office's statewide catalog of available properties.