The funding was awarded from the Fluor-BWXT Community Commitment Plan.
The Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth contracts with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) work at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon.
One of the stipulations of the D&D contract was the formation of a Community Commitment Plan.
The commitment plan states Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth will invest five percent of its fee in a four-county region (Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Ross counties.) Out of the plan came the creation of the Joint Economic Development Initiative of Southern Ohio (JEDISO).
Involved with JEDISO are economic development officials from each of the four counties.
The staff of the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) serve as Scioto County members of the JEDISO board and brought projects to the board on behalf of Big Sandy Superstore and Taylor Lumber.
Big Sandy Superstore’s operation in Franklin Furnace recently underwent an expansion. The work included adding 80,000 square feet of warehouse space. With the expansion onto their warehouse, the company now has a 225,000 square foot facility. The expansion also created roughly 20 jobs.
Around the same time, the company expanded into the Columbus, Ohio market with the addition of two locations.
Laura Timberlake, chief operating officer of Big Sandy Superstore, said she was pleased with the amount of community support the company has received over the last five years.
Timberlake said now she has people she can turn to when the company needs some help or advice.
According to www.bigsandysuperstore.com, “Big Sandy Superstore was founded in Ashland, Kentucky in 1953 by Robert Van Hoose, Sr. Van. He ran his business on a very basic principle; the golden rule, ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ This simple formula has stood the test of time as Big Sandy has grown into a regional powerhouse in the home furnishings industry and is one of the nation’s top 100 furniture retailers. Now with multiple store locations and over 600 employees in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.”
At Taylor Lumber of McDermott, the funding was used to help them with an equipment purchase.
The company has 210 employees at their McDermott site.
According to www.taylorlumberinc.com, “Taylor Lumber Worldwide Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of Rift & Quarter sawn lumber. Taylor lumber is also a leading producer of Rift & Quarter sawn ¾-inch solid hardwood flooring. Additionally, Taylor Lumber will be producing an engineered flooring product. Located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, Taylor Lumber continues the family tradition of quality and customer satisfaction.”
Officials with the company said they were pleased with the grant. After the presentation, Taylor Lumber officials engaged those in attendance in an in-depth conversation about the company.
For more information about Big Sandy Superstore visit them at www.bigsandysuperstore.com.
For more information about Taylor Lumber visit them at www.taylorlumberinc.com.
For more information about the Fluor-BWXT Community Commitment Plan visit, www.fbportsmouth.com/community/community-commitment-plan.htm
From Portsmouth Daily Times | January 15, 2017
