File image.
WEIRTON, W.Va. — Officials with an Italian packaging company broke ground for a new production facility in Weirton.
The Gruppo Fanti facility was planned in in 2020. The Brooke County facility will be the company’s first production site in the United States as well as its largest expansion.
According to Gruppo Fanti, it manufacturers more than 100 million cans a year. The company currently operates five production facilities in Europe.
Gruppo Fanti has dedicated $30 million toward the site, which will focus on producing metal packaging containers. The company will offer 40 new full-time positions at the site.
Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael told MetroNews the company is refurbishing an existing building.
“This is an area that has had industrialization and has been in decline for a period of time, and now we’re seeing it come back,” he said. “People are realizing the value of this great Northern Panhandle market. Businesses are really interested in being along the Ohio River and taking advantage of the great workforce here and the logistical advantages that it provides.”
Carmichael argued businesses are interested in the Ohio River Valley because of access to markets from the Ohio River, railway systems and the highway.
“They did extensive research throughout America,” he added. “They wanted to be in the Eastern corridor, but there were several states that were competing for this opportunity.”
Renovations to the current facility are expected to be completed later this year. Operations at the site will begin shortly after.