Europe and West Virginia Create Strong Partnership
The recent partnerships being created in Europe by the Charleston Area Alliance, Governor Manchin and his staff in the West Virginia Development Office are creating economic wins for everyone. The European companies are breaking into the US market through West Virginia based on its superb geographic location and its low cost of doing business. Our European partners are creating good paying jobs and contributing to the economy and community. The staff of the Charleston Area Alliance appreciates its strong relationship with Pasquale Catalfamo and his willingness to spread the word about the positive business climate in Charleston West Virginia.
Courtesy photo
Pasquale Catalfamo of the manufacturing firm Catalfer SRL, here with Gov. Joe Manchin announcing plans to locate a plant in West Virginia, is one of several Italian executives who have chosen to open facilities in the state recently.
April 16, 2006
A little Italy
European manufacturers taking to W.Va.
By Eric EyreStaff writer
When Gov. Joe Manchin and an entourage of state economic development leaders travel to Europe this month, they will have an eager tour guide in Pasquale Catalfamo.
Two weeks ago, Catalfamo announced plans to establish a U.S. manufacturing plant for his Italian company in the Charleston area. It’s the third company with Italian ties to set up shop in West Virginia in as many years.
Catalfamo, who is on the board of directors of a 1,500-member Italian manufacturing association, has taken it upon himself to promote West Virginia in Italy.
He plans to introduce Manchin to executives from Italian companies that make rubber, jewelry, textiles, plastics and chemicals.
“I will be the West Virginia ambassador,” Catalfamo said last week from his company’s headquarters in Varese, in northern Italy.
While state economic development officials continue to try to lure companies from Japan, Germany and elsewhere, their recruitment efforts in Italy seem to hold the most promise.
In 2004, Allevard Springs USA, a French subsidiary of Italian auto-parts company Sogefi SpA, opened in Wayne County. The plant’s 100 workers make suspension parts for Ford.
Last year, the chemical company Esseco Group of Trecate in northern Italy announced it would invest $20 million and establish a U.S. manufacturing site at the Bayer CropScience industrial park in Institute. About 30 people are expected to work there.
In March, the North American division of Essroc Italcementi Group, based in Bergamo, announced a $320 million expansion at its cement plant in Martinsburg. The expansion is expected to double the plant’s output. Essroc has 259 workers in Berkeley County.
And at a news conference at the state Capitol last month, Catalfamo outlined plans to open a plant in West Virginia, though the site hasn’t been determined yet.
To be called New Finishing Line, the company will be the North American division of his Italian company, Catalfer SRL. It will make sanding equipment and chemicals used in the auto and marine industries, and will hire about 40 people when it opens in 2008.
Catalfamo said he didn’t know a thing about West Virginia when he launched his search for a U.S. site. He first contacted state economic development offices in New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina. But they responded slowly and didn’t seem that interested in a company that promised only 40 jobs, he said.
Catalfamo already had a promotional letter about West Virginia — written in Italian —so he decided to follow up.
On a visit to Charleston, development officials introduced him to local lawyers and state environmental and tax officials. He liked West Virginia’s inexpensive labor, facility and energy costs.
He also worked closely with West Virginia economic development officials, including Angela Mascia, the state Development Office’s Europe project director, and Matt Ballard, Executive Vice President at the Charleston Area Alliance.
It’s only in West Virginia you really find the maximum help,” Catalfamo said. “They make it faster and easier to set up companies. You have a terribly effective development office in West Virginia. There are less bureaucracy problems.”
Mascia, who speaks Italian fluently, sends promotional letters about West Virginia to Italian companies written in Italian and goes to trade shows attended by Italian executives.
Last year, an Esseco executive visited Charleston with his 9-year-old daughter. Mascia even looked after the girl while the executive attended business meetings.
She’s provided excellent customer service to the Italian companies,” said Bill Goode, executive director of the Charleston Area Alliance. “It seems to be a pretty good match for us to recruit from Italy.”
Steve Spence, who heads the state Development Office and its international division, said staff members work hard to forge relationships and provide a “personal touch” when recruiting businesses. The approach seems to work well with the Italian companies.
“A small project means something in West Virginia,” Spence said. “Twenty jobs might not mean a lot in New York, but it does here.”
It also doesn’t hurt that West Virginia’s governor and several top members of his administration are descendants of Italian immigrants. Manchin takes pride in his heritage. He also makes himself accessible to foreign business owners — no matter the company’s size.
“He’s absolutely open,” Catalfamo said. “He’s always available to help solve our problems. This makes the difference in how to attract businesses.”
Catalfamo expects to have a Charleston office set up within six months. The company hopes to start manufacturing chemicals and equipment used by auto body shops in the next year or two.
In the meantime, he already is spreading the word about business opportunities in West Virginia. He said many Italian companies want to expand outside the country because Europe is a “tired market.”
“These companies are very curious to see how to start a business in West Virginia,” he said. “There are going to be many more with interest in going there.”
To contact staff writer Eric Eyre, use e-mail or call 348-4869.
The recent partnerships being created in Europe by the Charleston Area Alliance, Governor Manchin and his staff in the West Virginia Development Office are creating economic wins for everyone. The European companies are breaking into the US market through West Virginia based on its superb geographic location and its low cost of doing business. Our European partners are creating good paying jobs and contributing to the economy and community. The staff of the Charleston Area Alliance appreciates its strong relationship with Pasquale Catalfamo and his willingness to spread the word about the positive business climate in Charleston West Virginia.
Courtesy photo
Pasquale Catalfamo of the manufacturing firm Catalfer SRL, here with Gov. Joe Manchin announcing plans to locate a plant in West Virginia, is one of several Italian executives who have chosen to open facilities in the state recently.
April 16, 2006
A little Italy
European manufacturers taking to W.Va.
By Eric EyreStaff writer
When Gov. Joe Manchin and an entourage of state economic development leaders travel to Europe this month, they will have an eager tour guide in Pasquale Catalfamo.
Two weeks ago, Catalfamo announced plans to establish a U.S. manufacturing plant for his Italian company in the Charleston area. It’s the third company with Italian ties to set up shop in West Virginia in as many years.
Catalfamo, who is on the board of directors of a 1,500-member Italian manufacturing association, has taken it upon himself to promote West Virginia in Italy.
He plans to introduce Manchin to executives from Italian companies that make rubber, jewelry, textiles, plastics and chemicals.
“I will be the West Virginia ambassador,” Catalfamo said last week from his company’s headquarters in Varese, in northern Italy.
While state economic development officials continue to try to lure companies from Japan, Germany and elsewhere, their recruitment efforts in Italy seem to hold the most promise.
In 2004, Allevard Springs USA, a French subsidiary of Italian auto-parts company Sogefi SpA, opened in Wayne County. The plant’s 100 workers make suspension parts for Ford.
Last year, the chemical company Esseco Group of Trecate in northern Italy announced it would invest $20 million and establish a U.S. manufacturing site at the Bayer CropScience industrial park in Institute. About 30 people are expected to work there.
In March, the North American division of Essroc Italcementi Group, based in Bergamo, announced a $320 million expansion at its cement plant in Martinsburg. The expansion is expected to double the plant’s output. Essroc has 259 workers in Berkeley County.
And at a news conference at the state Capitol last month, Catalfamo outlined plans to open a plant in West Virginia, though the site hasn’t been determined yet.
To be called New Finishing Line, the company will be the North American division of his Italian company, Catalfer SRL. It will make sanding equipment and chemicals used in the auto and marine industries, and will hire about 40 people when it opens in 2008.
Catalfamo said he didn’t know a thing about West Virginia when he launched his search for a U.S. site. He first contacted state economic development offices in New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina. But they responded slowly and didn’t seem that interested in a company that promised only 40 jobs, he said.
Catalfamo already had a promotional letter about West Virginia — written in Italian —so he decided to follow up.
On a visit to Charleston, development officials introduced him to local lawyers and state environmental and tax officials. He liked West Virginia’s inexpensive labor, facility and energy costs.
He also worked closely with West Virginia economic development officials, including Angela Mascia, the state Development Office’s Europe project director, and Matt Ballard, Executive Vice President at the Charleston Area Alliance.
It’s only in West Virginia you really find the maximum help,” Catalfamo said. “They make it faster and easier to set up companies. You have a terribly effective development office in West Virginia. There are less bureaucracy problems.”
Mascia, who speaks Italian fluently, sends promotional letters about West Virginia to Italian companies written in Italian and goes to trade shows attended by Italian executives.
Last year, an Esseco executive visited Charleston with his 9-year-old daughter. Mascia even looked after the girl while the executive attended business meetings.
She’s provided excellent customer service to the Italian companies,” said Bill Goode, executive director of the Charleston Area Alliance. “It seems to be a pretty good match for us to recruit from Italy.”
Steve Spence, who heads the state Development Office and its international division, said staff members work hard to forge relationships and provide a “personal touch” when recruiting businesses. The approach seems to work well with the Italian companies.
“A small project means something in West Virginia,” Spence said. “Twenty jobs might not mean a lot in New York, but it does here.”
It also doesn’t hurt that West Virginia’s governor and several top members of his administration are descendants of Italian immigrants. Manchin takes pride in his heritage. He also makes himself accessible to foreign business owners — no matter the company’s size.
“He’s absolutely open,” Catalfamo said. “He’s always available to help solve our problems. This makes the difference in how to attract businesses.”
Catalfamo expects to have a Charleston office set up within six months. The company hopes to start manufacturing chemicals and equipment used by auto body shops in the next year or two.
In the meantime, he already is spreading the word about business opportunities in West Virginia. He said many Italian companies want to expand outside the country because Europe is a “tired market.”
“These companies are very curious to see how to start a business in West Virginia,” he said. “There are going to be many more with interest in going there.”
To contact staff writer Eric Eyre, use e-mail or call 348-4869.
posted by Charleston West Virginia Economic Development
@ 2:45 PM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home