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October 25, 2007
Wise County landed 200 new jobs Wednesday when Pinnacle Wood Products of Virginia opened a plant in the Wise County Industrial Park.
Ray Whitt, president of the company, said the region’s work force and the support he received from state and local government are primary reasons he located in Wise County.
The plant makes custom cabinets, closets and components, thermofoil doors and garage organizers.
Whitt, who came back to Wise County after a stint at a wood-product manufacturing company in South Carolina, said the decision to open his plant here was easy.
"The people in this area are just really magnificent," he said.
Whitt managed the Bush furniture plant in St. Paul for several years before the company shuttered the operation in 2004. It moved production to another state, even though the local plant was a top performer for the company, Whitt said.
Pinnacle began operations Wednesday with a handful of workers, but Whitt expects the work force to grow to 200 within three years.
His workers stayed late recently just to get some kinks out of the new equipment. They stayed without being asked, he said.
"That’s the work ethic here," he said. "Money can’t buy it. These guys take ownership in what they do, and that’s why I wanted to come back to the area."
Most of Whitt’s managers will be local, but he persuaded his friend Ed Johnson to move from South Carolina to serve as vice president of sales.
Johnson admitted he was skeptical about Whitt’s claims about the region at first. He changed his mind shortly after he arrived in Wise County.
The quality of work produced at the plant has already affected sales, Johnson said. He’s received more than $50,000 in orders already and another $30,000 is in the works.
"I never thought it would happen so fast," Johnson said. "I think it’s because of the people."
Customers have seen what the plant and its workers can produce, Johnson said.
"We may need a bigger building," he said. "If we get all this work, I don’t think 200 workers will be enough."
Delegate Bud Phillips, D-Sandy Ridge, said the Wise County Industrial Development Authority is to be commended for working with entrepreneurs and small businesses as a way to diversify the economy. Eighty percent of new jobs created today are from small businesses and companies such as Pinnacle, he said.
"The 200 jobs are important, but the message loud and clear is that Wise County and Southwest Virginia are open for business to small-business people," Phillips said.
Many companies come to Southwest Virginia, take advantage of generous incentives, then leave in five years, Phillips said. Pinnacle will be different because of Whitt’s commitment to the area and the quality products the plant will manufacture, Phillips said.
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority provided a $1.2 million loan to the county industrial development authority so the company could purchase equipment and lease the former Buster Brown apparel building. The Virginia Tobacco Commission provided $200,000.
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The Virginia Employment Commission is handling job applications.
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