CSX Transportation Confers Award on WV Exec.
CSX Transportation Inc. has presented its 2000 Partnershipping Award to William Turner, national accounts manager for the West Virginia Development Office, for his outstanding contributions to economic growth in West Virginia, the Jacksonville transportation giant announced.
CSXT said that Turner helped bring three companies— Ecolab Inc., Merrick Engineering Inc. and Precision Extrusion (Simonton Windows)—to rail-served locations in West Virginia.
CSXT inaugurated the Partnershipping Award in 1987 to recognize people who demonstrate what it called "remarkable industrial development achievements" after working with CSXT to attract jobs and capital to communities along the CSXT rail system.
"The state of West Virginia looks forward to our continued relationship with CSXT," Turner said. "Strong partners such as CSXT help keep West Virginia's economy strong and vibrant."
Ecolab Inc. is investing $17 million in its new solvent manufacturing facility and will create 85 new jobs for the Martinsburg, WV, area. CSXT will transport 150 carloads of cleaning and sanitizing materials for the facility each year when the plant is fully operational, which is expected to be sometime this spring.
Merrick Engineering invested $5 million in its new 100,000-square-foot plastics-manufacturing facility in Harrison County, WV. The company will initially employ 150 people. CSXT will transport 50 carloads of plastic products annually when the plant is operational, which is expected at the end of the year.
Precision Excursion invested $18 million in its vinyl window manufacturing facility in Waverly, WV, and will employ 100 people. CSXT will transport 150 carloads of PVC resin annually when the plant opens later this year.
Through its industrial-development program, CSXT has played a key role during the last six years in helping about 500 companies locate and expand along its rail lines. Since 1994, CSXT has supported $10.5 billion in new industrial-expansion investment, creating nearly 32,000 jobs. While generating new jobs and investment dollars in eastern and midwestern states, CSXT is growing its revenue by building a stronger customer base.
CSXT employs about 2,400 people in West Virginia with an annual payroll of more than $97 million.