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Allegheny Construction Company President Andy
Douthat make the formal announcement Tuesday
in the Lenowisco Offices

Allegheny Construction Co. Purchases Foote Mineral Plant

Lisa Watson McCarty
Publisher

A Roanoke-based construction is re-opening a plant in Sunbright that will complement the construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Wise County. During a special announcement held yesterday at the Lenowisco offices in Duffield, Allegheny Construction Company, Inc. announced it would open and operate a manufacturing facility at the site formerly used by Cyprus Foote Mineral on the Natural Tunnel Parkway (Route 775).

The company will invest approximately $8 million and initially employ 10 persons at the site where they will extract high-calcium limestone that is used in the coal burning process.

"We are excited to work with the citizens of Scott County and have an opportunity to contribute to its continuing economic growth," said Anderson 'Andy' W. Douthat IV, president of Allegheny Construction.

"We will make every effort to be a good neighbor and draw upon the local citizens to be a part of our team. We would like to thank the Tobacco Commission for their generous consideration and compliment the Board of Supervisors and the staff in economic development office. Scott County is truly a beautiful community and a pleasure to work with."

The company is working with state agencies to secure the necessary permits to mine the limestone. A railroad spur will be added at the site and core drilling will be done on site to extract the high-calcium content limestone. Douthat said he expected there was a local market for other stone extracted from the mine and it would be sold locally.

The private company is owned by Douthat, his father and brother and was founded in 1963.

They are a Class A Heavy/Highway General Contractor licensed in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The company has completed projects that include site preparation for industrial parks, bridges, dams, landfills, highways and interchanges.

According to the company, they have also undertaken sensitive historic renovations as well as more modern and advanced engineering challenges. They operated a similar mining operation for 10 years in Sutton, W.Va. The Virginia Tobacco Commission provided $60,000 from its Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund. "We are elated to partner in this project that provides significant investment in the Duffield area," said State Sen. William Wampler (R-Bristol).

"The company has an extraordinary track record, and we applaud them for opening a facility in close proximity to the Duffield Regional Industrial Park."

Ron Flanary, executive director of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, said Tuesday's announcement didn't happen by chance but by design. He commented that the recruitment of complementary industries was being 'targeted' by regional economic development groups.

"The Virginia Tobacco Commission is pleased to provide support for this project which builds on the strength of the Duffield area as one of the fastest growing economic centers in Southwest Virginia," explained Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City), who serves as vice chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

Douthat said some of the initial employees hired for the facility include a superintendent, mining engineer, scale house and equipment operators and on-site rail handlers. He also expects to contract with local tractor-trailer owners/operators.

The Scott County Economic Development Authority worked with the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to secure the project. Lenowisco, the Duffield Development Authority and the Scott County Board of Supervisors provided assistance.

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Jobs Investment Program.

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