A California company has announced its plans to locate a permanent manufacturing plant in Bluefield, West Virginia to produce and distribute pre-fabricated home building blocks. Omnis Building Technologies announced its plans to invest $40 million into a 150,000 square foot factory in Mercer County.
The plant is estimated to create 150 to 300 new full-time positions for the economic expansion of Bluefield and the greater state of West Virginia.
Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Jim Spencer, Director of the Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority, and Jonathan Hodson, President of Omnis Building Technologies.
When asked, Why West Virginia––Hodson commented on the centrality of its location with respect to its proximity to the rest of the nation (accessible to nearly 40% of all U.S. population) and easy transport system from one coast to the other by rail or truck.
“Strategically from our company’s perspective, it’s an ideal location,” said Jonathan Hodson, reported by WV Metro News.
The vision for Omnis Building Technologies is to ensure that the production of exceptional, sustainable, and economical housing is made accessible to everyone. Together with their diverse team, the Omnis corporation has been able to reach and engage communities of all kinds, from urban to suburban and rural to tribal.
Jim Spencer, Director of the Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority, is all about improving the economic welfare of the Bluefield community through job creation, job retention, tax base incentives, and an increase in its residents’ overall quality of life.
“If we don’t tell our story, somebody else will––and we won’t like how they tell it,” said Spencer. “That’s why we’ve gone to the offensive to tell everyone Why Bluefield and Why This Region.”
Bluefield is already the site of two major economic drivers in the state of West Virginia, featuring Intuit and Alorica. The location of Intuit offices in Mercer County was one aspect of the Prosperity Hub Program––an initiative to bring full-time jobs, vocational training, education resources, and a spark of economic prosperity to small-town communities in need.
The addition of Omnis Building Technologies will only add to the already bolstering economic expansion of the City of Bluefield.
To follow the panelists’ stories and to get a better glimpse of each, visit www.mybluefield.org and www.omnisbuilding.com.