Roger Conley, left, owner of Conley Fabrication in Mineral Wells, listens to opening comments Wednesday by West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
MINERAL WELLS, W.Va. — A “true West Virginia success story,” which broke ground a year ago on a $2 million expansion project, this week officially opened the doors of its new facility.
Conley Fabrication held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for the 30,000-square-foot facility expansion. The company makes aluminum and steel truck bodies and trailers for commercial use and other metal products, including products for use in the oil and gas industry.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette and other state and local officials attended the event.
Tomblin praised Conley Fabrication, which began only five years ago as a father-and-son business.
“This is a true West Virginia success story,” Tomblin said, noting the company has grown from six to nearly 18 workers since it opened and hopes to double that workforce in the coming months.
Burdette said the company’s success was an inspiration to other small businesses.
“Small businesses like this across the state … this is the lifeblood of the West Virginia economy,” he said.
Owner Roger Conley thanked the community and area businesses for their support, and said Tomblin was instrumental in getting the road installed which allowed for the expansion.
“With this new facility, we are now poised to move to the next level,” Conley said.
“We will be providing additional jobs, as well as providing our existing and future customers with the best possible product in a timely manner and at a competitive price.”
The new facility expansion sits on a 27-acre property in Mineral Wells, which Conley is working to develop into a business park. The state Industrial Road Fund has assisted in this effort, and the park is already receiving interest from potential tenants, including national electrical supply company Gexpro.
The company has received assistance through the Governor’s Guaranteed Workforce Program, which helps fund specialized employee training.
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