RIBBON CUTTING
Officials celebrate opening of 22nd Century Technologies Inc.
Trending
City of Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, left, talks with Reddy Prudhvi, associate director for strategy and business development at 22nd Century Technologies, during Tuesday's Ribbon Cutting ceremony.
ELKINS -- West Virginia Cabinet Secretary Mitch Carmichael helped the Randolph County Development Authority launch the opening of 22nd Century Technologies Inc. on Tuesday.
Carmichael joined a host of local leaders, including RCDA Director Robbie Morris and City of Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Both Morris and Marco were instrumental in helping bring the company to Elkins.
"I would like to thank everyone for joining us today as we mark this monumental moment for economic growth and opportunity here in Randolph County," said Morris. "This project has been a little over a year in the making but here we are not only getting ready to open a new business in Elkins, but a brand new industry sector for this entire region in West Virginia."
Morris said the entire process of bringing the company to Elkins began with a simple phone call.
"Mayor Marco called me one day and said he had a lead on a company he thought we could get to come to Elkins," said Morris. "Jerry has been passionate about this project from Day 1 and we appreciate his dedication to economic development and connecting us with 22nd Century Technologies."
Gov. Jim Justice was scheduled to attend the celebration at the company's new facility, which is located on Wilson Lane at the former Reidbord Building. IBEX Global was the last company to work out of the site. Justice canceled his trip to the site earlier in the day on Tuesday.
"It's a great feeling to be standing here in front of all of you today and to celebrate the opening of this office," said Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Technologies Anil Sharma, "I'd like to start by expressing my gratitude to Mr. Carmichael, Mayor Marco and Robbie (Morris) for helping us with everything. I also want to thank all the local officials and community leaders who were part of us coming here and starting our operations in Elkins."
22nd Century Technologies is a secured Managed Services Facility and currently employs close to 7,500 people worldwide. It offers a variety of IT services, software development, cyber security, and other things having to do with government entities. It now has facilities in all 50 states.
"We stand here in front of this building and its significance is much greater than the structure," said Sharma. "Today it represents creating hope, opportunities, and a great collaboration with the local West Virginia administration and the company…This all started with a meeting with Mayor Marco when he asked us to come to Elkins and start something here…We wanted to pick a place where we could help and make a difference, and after coming here and talking with the Mayor and Robbie, we decided to pick Elkins as our next place for expansion."
Todd Gunter, senior field representative for Senator Shelley Moore Capito; Wendy Madden, regional outreach representative for Senator Joe Manchin; and Rhett Duesnbury, district representative for Congressman Alex Mooney; also spoke at the ceremony.
Marco expressed his gratitude to 22nd Century Technologies and welcomed them to the community.
"What a beautiful day, this is a tremendous opportunity to welcome a new business to our family," said Marco. "It is hard to believe that it was just slightly over a year ago when I met with representatives from 22nd Century … I want to thank Robbie (Morris) for all he has done and another person who I think is truly responsible in making this a reality and creating more jobs in our community, and that is the Secretary of West Virginia Economic Development Mitch Carmichael."
Carmichael said that 22nd Century Technologies made the right choice when the company chose the Elkins area as part of its expansion.
"West Virginia has become the go to place for jobs and economic growth in America," said Carmichael. "You (22nd Century) have picked the most beautiful city in the entire state of West Virginia, which is the most beautiful state in America, to locate this facility. You are in the best place that you could possibly be … These jobs in this facility mean an incredible amount to this state and to this local community. You could have picked anywhere in America to go and it would have made a difference, but not like it will here."