Governor Announces newest Putnam County Industry

January 6, 2000 - Governor Cecil Underwood (left) announces the location of Putnam County's newest industrial firm - Poca Blending - at the Par Industrial Park in Nitro, WV.

The Governor's announcement came at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Statehouse briefing room. The new industry is expected to bring at least 50 new jobs for Putnam County residents.

Poca Blending offers custom manufacturing and handling services, warehousing and packaging of industrial and specialty chemicals.

"Poca Blending will be an excellent addition to the state's roster of chemical industry companies," Gov. Underwood said. "West Virginia has targeted the chemical industry's great potential for growth. Today's announcement shows we're on the right track in our efforts to support the expansion of this vital industry."

The company will store and blend chemicals it purchases from such companies as Tetra Chemical, HVC and Freedom Industries at its new 32,000-square-foot docking facility in the Par Industrial Park, according to company president Denny Farrell.

"There's nobody around that can do what we can do. The smaller chemical companies need us as much as the larger firms," he said. "Our quality systems utilize ISO-9002 procedures with a commitment to continuous improvement."

ISO-9002 designation will help the company do business with some of West Virginia's largest chemical manufacturers.

"We've made a commitment to quality from Day 1," Farrell said. "That goes for everything, from our quality work force to the quality of our operations."

Poca Blending is an immediate success for the Governor's recently organized Chemical Alliance Zone (CAZ), patterned after the successful Polymer Alliance Zone. The CAZ is expected to further strengthen the area's chemical industries and to add employees in an area with highly skilled workers with experience in the chemical industry.

County Commission members Clinton "Bud" Beaver, James Caruthers, and PCDA's Gary Walton were on hand for the announcement. Walton stated that "we are glad to welcome Poca Blending to Putnam County's industrial base. We would like to thank" Commissioner Caruthers suggested that the "50 new jobs will help replace some of the jobs expected to be lost with the closing of the Rite Aid distribution facility, expected in March.

(L -R) Gary Walton, Commissioners Clinton Beaver and James Caruthers and Governor Underwood pose for photographs after the announcement Thursday at the State Capitol building.







For further information, please contact: Gary Walton at 757-0318