CHARLESTON, W.Va (WVDN) – Senator Jim Justice visited Gestamp South Charleston during National Manufacturing Week to highlight the importance of manufacturing and the West Virginians who power it.
“As America brings manufacturing home and electricity demand rises, West Virginia should be producing the power that fuels that growth – not watching the investment go somewhere else. For a manufacturer like Gestamp, you have to have power that is both affordable and reliable. A plant cannot operate if the grid is unreliable, and high electricity costs make it harder to compete. I’ve always advocated for an “all the above” energy approach. West Virginia already has the energy resources and workforce to help meet this growing demand. When Congress passes the permitting reform and makes it easier to turn those resources into actual generation, transmission, and manufacturing jobs,” said Senator Jim Justice.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Senator Jim Justice to our South Charleston facility, and we truly appreciate him taking the time to visit our team and show his support for manufacturing in our community. National Manufacturing Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the people behind what we do, and we’re incredibly proud and grateful for our hardworking Gestamp employees who make our success possible every day,” said Federico Mattassini, Director of Operations Gestamp US.
“As competition for manufacturing investment continues to grow across the country, strong partnerships between industry and state leadership are essential to maintaining a competitive business environment and supporting long-term growth. We appreciate Senator Justice taking the time to understand the challenges facing our South Charleston facility and recognize the importance of continued investment, job retention, and the dedicated workforce that makes manufacturing in West Virginia possible,” said Jared Lahiff, Sales & Strategic Planning Manager Gestamp US.
