Jennmar Corp. of Virginia, Inc., a subsidiary of Frank Calandra, Inc. & Subsidiaries and a provider of quality roof and standing support products for the mining and tunneling industry, will invest $6 million to build a new facility in Tazewell County, in southwestern part of the state. The new facility will employ 70 people.

The plant will manufacture corrugated metal products and other steel-related roof control products for the mining and construction industry. The new facility will be located in Wardell Industrial Park, near an existing Jennmar facility that manufactures roofing support products for the coal industry.

Jennmar originated as a proprietorship in 1922 by Mary and Frank Calandra, Sr., parents of Jennmar’s two common stockholders, Jack Calandra and Frank Calandra, Jr. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jennmar Corporation offers coal and hard rock producers a technologically advanced line of roof control products.

Currently, Jennmar has sales offices and plants in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Australia, and China.

“Jennmar selected Tazewell County because of our past economic success since 1994,” said Frank Calandra, Jr., President and CEO of Jennmar Corporation. “Jennmar also chose the State of Virginia due to many positives for a manufacturing facility. Virginia has a fair state corporate tax structure, is politically corporate friendly to include workmen’s compensation and environmental laws and is pro-active in enhancing future business. Tazewell County offers excellent banking and municipality services.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Tazewell County and the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia. The state approved a $150,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Tazewell County with the project.

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $110,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, because it is locating in a Virginia Enterprise Zone.

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

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