The Tri-State Area received good news on Friday with the announcement Premium Guard Inc. will be locating a new operation in the community.

As part of its plans for growth, which include expanding its market into Canada, the Memphis-based company, which manufactures automotive filters and other parts and accessories, has decided to set up shop in the Upper Ohio Valley, moving into a facility once home to the rue21 distribution center on Park Drive.

This is good news for two major reasons. One, it fills space which has been vacant for the last several months, ensuring a once-bustling facility does not sit empty for too long. Second, the announcement comes with the promise of the creation of 100 new jobs.

The company says it plans to be up and running by July, and it seems activity already is taking place at the site in preparation for its operations to begin. The hiring process also is set to begin soon, company officials have said.

According to the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, which announced the company’s plans, this represents a $3 million investment in the community.

The effects, though, will be felt in many other ways for a long time.

While getting the warehouse facility ready to begin operations, local businesses will benefit, whether that be the need for work by local contractors, the rental of rooms at area hotels for those out-of-town guests involved with the project, dining at area restaurants and more.

Once the jobs are filled, that means more residents from across the region will be working, shopping at local stores, visiting restaurants, enrolling children in area schools and using other facilities, continuing an increased investment in our area.

Our area has had more than its share of bad job news over the years, so it’s good to see good news continuing. The Three Springs Drive area of Weirton continues to see growth, which is good for the community.

Welcome, then, is extended to Premium Guard, as is the expectation they will call the region home for many years to come.