Mon Valley nurturing a more diverse business community
Mark Soroka
As CEO for one of the Mon Valley’s fastest growing manufacturing plants, Raymond Yeager oversees staff that make products for the commercial construction supply chain.
Mark Soroka
Pictured is Dorette DeFade, events coordinator at Vinosky Winery in Rostraver Township.
Mark Soroka
As CEO for one of the Mon Valley’s fastest growing manufacturing plants, Raymond Yeager oversees staff that make products for the commercial construction supply chain.
During a recent Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Jeff Burd, publisher of Breaking Ground and Developing Pittsburgh magazines, spoke to a group of local business leaders and told them that the Mon Valley is poised to experience an economic turnaround.
“You have a lot going for you and you have it in spades,” said Burd. “The Mon Valley has many assets, including close access to railroads, highways and rivers, as well as cheap, plentiful energy, affordable housing and friendly neighborhoods.
“But as you plan for the future, it’s important not to put all your eggs in one basket. You saw what happened when the local economy depended exclusively on steel production. You want to strive for a more diversified economy.”
The Mon Valley seems to be heeding Burd’s advice. Economic prosperity is no longer being determined by the number of smokestacks standing along the banks of the Monongahela River. Today, the Mon Valley is home to a wide range of businesses, from HVAC manufacturing to natural gas drilling to winemaking.
“Diversification is driving the economic vitality of the Mon Valley as well as the rest of southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Raymond Yeager, president and CEO of DMI Companies, a Mon Valley-based manufacturer that employs 225 people and makes accessories and components for mechanical systems that are used for commercial construction. “It’s absolutely amazing how the area is transforming itself. There is so much potential ahead for this region.”
Yeager pointed out that many people aren’t aware of the impact that DMI Companies and other small industries are making in the region.
“Larger companies in industries such as shale gas, manufacturing, robotics and defense depend on a supply chain that can send them the materials they need to do what they do,” said Yeager. “More and more of these suppliers are sprouting up throughout the region. They help to create jobs for local residents, contribute to the tax roll and keep money in the area.”
Christopher Whitlach, chief executive officer of the Mon Valley Alliance, also is optimistic the region is starting to turn a corner.
“We are seeing a lot more business activity taking place, particularly at industrial parks such as Alta Vista,” said Whitlach, whose organization provides outreach to area incubators for potential business location in the Mon Valley and helps startups with acquisition and outfitting of collaboration spaces.
Whitlach believes 2017 was especially a turning point for oil and gas development in the area.
“Oil and gas companies are starting to reinvest in the Mon Valley,” he said. “We’re seeing more permits being issued and more wells under construction. One of the things that contributed to that was pricing stability in the oil and gas industry. That bodes well for future drilling in the area. And that will help create more jobs and benefit the overall business community.”
Whitlach feels that petrochemical plants that will be built near Pittsburgh could create a demand for spinoff businesses in the Mon Valley.
“The Mon Valley is only 70 miles away from the future ethane cracker plants in Beaver County and Belmont, Ohio,” he said. “If we start putting things into place, we could attract companies that make things like rubber, sealants or PVC pipes for the shale gas industry.”
Since taking office in 2016, State Rep. Justin Walsh (R-58) has been a strong advocate for the Mon Valley’s business community. He supports legislation that helps to make Pennsylvania more business friendly.
“The Commonwealth can do more to bring more new companies to Pennsylvania while encouraging existing businesses to stay here,” he said. “Pennsylvania’s restrictive regulatory environment stifles economic growth and kills family-sustaining jobs. I’m working with other legislators in Harrisburg to bring about changes that will benefit business development in the Mon Valley.”
Walsh also is closely following the growth of agritourism in the Mon Valley.
“Right here in my district, entrepreneurs are starting to transform existing farms and buildings into agritourism attractions,” he said. “Last year, the Vinosky Winery opened for business in Rostraver Township. And there are plans for a distillery in West Newton. With so many farms in the area, there’s a lot of potential for similar enterprises.”
Rep. Bud Cook (R-49), who is working with local schools to create more “train the trade” opportunities, is always looking for creative approaches to spur on economic growth.
“We need to pull back and start taking a 30,000 foot view of our business landscape,” he said. “Some of our greatest assets are still waiting to be tapped. For example, there are other ways we can monetize the Monongahela River. I learned that hay is very expensive for people who own horse ranches in the South. Well guess what? Hay is a lot cheaper to grow in the Mon Valley. We could pack 20 tons of hay in containers, load them up on barges and ship them to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. Something like that could create a prosperous new industry in the Mon Valley. The possibilities are endless.”