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BDC and Pietro Fiorentini USA recognized

AWARDS -- Representatives of the Business Development Corp. and Pietro Fiorentini were in Charleston last week to receive an award for their efforts to remediate and redevelop the site in Weirton which will soon be the company’s new manufacturing home. The award was presented by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. -- Contributed

CHARLESTON — The Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle and Pietro Fiorentini USA have been honored for their remediation and redevelopment efforts.

The recognition took place as part of the 2019 Environmental Awards, presented last week by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

The BDC and Pietro Fiorentini received the award for Brownfield Development and Remediation for the development of Pietro Fiorentini’s new manufacturing plant in the Three Springs Business Park in Weirton.

The business and the local economic development organization utilized abandoned, previously mined land in Weirton to construct a new manufacturing plant which is scheduled to open in July. The 26-acre property was used as a surface coal mine from the 1940s to the 1960s. It was entered into the DEP’s Voluntary Remediation Program and cleared as part of the construction process.

The BDC has received a certificate of completion from the WVDEP for the remediation work.

“I cannot express how humbled and proud we are to be the recipient of this environmental award,” said BDC Board Chairman C. William D’Alesio. “What makes this award so special is that we must receive a nomination from an employee of the WVDEP. Being recognized by the WVDEP sends a message to our region, and state, that we share the same mission as the WVDEP to clean up our environment, be stewards of the state and will exhaust all means to accomplish these ends.”

Among thoe on hand afor the presentation were Brooke County Commissioner and BDC Executive Board member A.J. Thomas; Marc England, PF USA, Inc.; Dave Olson, vice president for civil and environmental consultants and the project licensed remediation specialist, Angela Mascia, West Virginia Development Office; the BDC’s Patrick Ford and Marvin Six; and Sheena Moore, WVDEP sponsor.

Thomas credited the community members and other organizations with which the BDC has partnered in recent years on its various projects.

“Partnerships have helped many of our local projects move forward, providing assessment, planning, and cleanup funding as well as opportunities to invest in properties for future employment opportunities in the northern panhandle,” said Thomas. “The award is more a reflection of the work of the people behind the scenes — USEPA, WVDEP, elected officials and all the volunteers who commit the time to develop these environmentally challenged properties.”

The awards recognize the accomplishments of state industries, municipalities, educators and community leaders who strive to protect the environment, work to be good corporate neighbors, and educate the state’s citizens, officials said.

“After our acquisition of our first brownfield, the former Taylor, Smith & Taylor Pottery Factory in Chester, we saw more opportunities to repurpose overlooked abandoned properties for industrial and commercial uses,” said Ford. “We see brownfields as the perfect chance to revitalize and reuse properties in Northern Panhandle communities. Brownfields in Brooke and Hancock counties are home to dozens of businesses and industries.”

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