Cottageville, W.Va. — West Virginia celebrated Manufacturing Day on Friday with various events, including TIMET’s STEM activities for students at Cottageville Elementary School in Jackson County.
Aaron Valentine, the director of operations for TIMET, expressed enthusiasm about their commitment to the community. “We’re excited to be here in Jackson County for the long term, starting with educating local students about opportunities in STEM-related fields, he said. This is our first Manufacturing Day celebration in the area, and we’re thrilled to engage with the students. We aim to teach them about the products TIMET will manufacture once we start production and show them how they can pursue careers in manufacturing right here in their hometown.”
TIMET, or Titanium Metals Corporation, is in the process of constructing a plant in Ravenswood, where they will use large furnaces to melt titanium.
Valentine also mentioned that the event could spark interest in job opportunities at TIMET among students and their families. These students are our future talent pipeline, he explained. In the short term, their older siblings or parents might also be interested in joining our team.
Whit Parrish, TIMET’s Engineering Manager, added a personal touch to the event, sharing that he is a former student of Cottageville Elementary and now has children attending the school. It’s really special to be back here, Parrish told WMOV Radio.
The STEM activities featured two interactive stations where students could explore engineering and science concepts through engaging, hands-on challenges.
On a broader note, Bill Bissett, President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, spoke on MetroNews Talkline about the challenges facing southern West Virginia. He noted the state has made significant progress in attracting businesses to flat sites, but southern West Virginia lacks this kind of land. “We need to solve the economic puzzle for southern West Virginia. While the rest of the state can thrive, we will continue to bear the costs of southern West Virginia’s challenges, Bissett said.
He also highlighted the potential for growth in the energy sector to benefit southern counties and emphasized that tourism could play a vital role in the region’s economic development.
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