5/28/2009
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin presented the Governor’s Commendation for International Market Entry to representatives of 49 West Virginia businesses. The award honors companies that have successfully exported to a new country in the past year.
Gov. Joe Manchin joined the West Virginia Export Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce on May 27 to commend the 49 West Virginia companies.
This year marks the highest number of recipients since the state established the award in 2002. The previous record was 45 companies, set in 2006.
“West Virginia businesses have long proven we have the quality of goods, services and workers to compete successfully in the global economic arena,” said Gov. Manchin. “International trade and investment help to create and retain jobs in West Virginia.”
In 2008, West Virginia company exports amounted to more than $5.6 billion, a 41 percent increase over 2007. In the same time period, the export rate for the nation as a whole increased 12 percent.
The governor’s award is based on the tradition of displaying the first dollar a business earns. The Governor’s Commendation for International Market Entry frames currency from each new country to which the recipient business began exporting in 2008.
Commendations were handed out to:
Berkeley County
§ Brentwood Industries of Martinsburg; Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Jamaica, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, Sri Lanka
§ Chem-Pak Inc. of Martinsburg; Taiwan, South Korea
§ DSI Mining Americas of Martinsburg; Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Chile, Ghana
§ Power Sonix of Martinsburg; South Korea, Dominican Republic
Cabell County
§ Rubberlite Inc. of Huntington; Belgium
§ Steel of West Virginia Inc. of Huntington; Italy, France
§ Guyan International of Barboursville; Denmark, Taiwan, Iraq, Norway, Belgium
§ Richwood Industries of Huntington; Democratic Republic of the Congo
§ Vandalia Research Inc. of Huntington; United Kingdom, Norway, Austria, Canada, Italy, Germany
Fayette County
§ The Robbins Co. of Oak Hill; Russia
Greenbrier County
§ Appalachian Electronic Instruments of Ronceverte; Mauritius, Norway
Hancock County
§ United States Gypsum Co. of Weirton; Hong Kong, Uruguay, New Zealand, Iceland
Jackson County
§ Appalachian Log Structures of Ripley; China
§ J & M Industrial, Inc. of Millwood; Austria, Denmark, France, Haiti
Jefferson County
§ Royal Vendors Inc. of Kearneysville; United Arab Emirates; Portugal
§ Schonstedt Instrument Co. of Kearneysville; Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Kanawha County
§ ConveyWeigh, LLC of Dunbar; Honduras, Israel, Kosovo, Mexico, South Korea
§ Cyclops Industries Inc. of South Charleston; Italy, Turkey
§ Gilco Lumber Inc. of South Charleston; Turkey
§ Kanawha Manufacturing Co.of Charleston; Pakistan, Canada
§ Preiser Scientific Inc. of St. Albans; India, Mongolia, Poland
§ Stagg Resource Consultants Inc. of Cross Lanes; Ghana
§ Walhonde Tools Inc. of Charleston; Latvia
Lewis County
§ Viking Pools LLC of Jane Lew; Tahiti, Bermuda, Aruba
Marion County
§ Backbone Security of Fairmont; Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, The Netherlands
§ Helmick Corporation of Fairmont; United Kingdom
Marshall County
§ IMI Fabi LLC of Benwood; Japan
§ Leveltek International LLC of Benwood; Canada
Mason County
§ ICL Supresta Inc. of Gallipolis Ferry; Costa Rica, Peru
Mercer County
§ The Daniels Co. of Bluefield; Colombia
Mineral County
§ Howell Automotive of Keyser; United Arab Emirates, Italy, Norway, New Zealand
Monongalia County
§ FCX Systems Inc. of Morgantown; Turkey
§ Swanson Industries of Morgantown; Norway
Morgan County
§ Pritchard Amps of Berkeley Springs; Russia
Ohio County
§ Primedia Products Inc. of Wheeling; Peru, South Korea
Preston County
§ Aquafix Systems Inc. of Kingwood; Chile
§ Superior Fibers LLC of Reedsville; Turkey, Israel
Putnam County
§ Eagle Research Corp. of Hurricane; Indonesia
§ Kanawha Scales & Systems of Poca; Saudi Arabia, Colombia, India
Raleigh County
§ The Gentleman’s Quarter of Beckley; Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Israel, Belgium, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, The Netherlands, Poland, Japan, Bulgaria, France, Greece
§ Quality Environmental Containers Inc. of Beaver; Martinique
§ Terex SHM of Beckley; Australia
Tyler County
§ Marble King Inc. of Paden City; Mexico
Upshur County
§ Appalachian Forest Products of Buckhannon; Vietnam, Greece
Wayne County
§ Aplicare Inc. of Prichard; Honduras, Singapore, Venezuela
§ Jim C. Hamer Co. of Kenova; Turkey
Wood County
§ Batteries Direct of Parkersburg; Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Grenada, Chile
§ Rhodes Trailers & Truck Bodies of Parkersburg; Canada
§ Rolling Ridge Woods of Parkersburg; Vietnam, The Netherlands
Contact Information
Catherine Zacchi
304-558-2003