One hundred years ago, immigrants from Europe came to Weirton with the hope of beginning a new life thanks to a burgeoning steel plant.

While much has changed in the decades since, the reach of the Weirton community into other parts of the world has continued, and this week we welcome our newest international neighbors.

The Fanti Group, a manufacturer based in Italy, has officially begun renovations to what will become its first production facility in the United States. A ceremony with company officials, as well as local and state dignitaries, was held Wednesday at the Birch Drive building the company soon will call home.

This is significant in many ways, not the least of which is the 40 new jobs the company initially plans to create for our area as well as the $30 million investment it is making to renovate a building which has sat vacant and unused for several years.

This new U.S. operation, which will produce metal packaging containers, also is the Fanti Group’s largest expansion in its 77-year history.

In addition to Europe, the company has facilities in Asia and Africa. State officials have noted West Virginia was one of three states considered by the company for this expansion.

The company has humble beginnings, with its founder, Giorgio Fanti, first setting up in his garage 77 years ago, initially recycling empty cans before moving on to producing his own. Today, the company builds and ships millions of metal and plastic containers each year.

First announced by Gov. Jim Justice in November 2020, the Fanti Group, or Gruppo Fanti as it is known in its home country, is the latest international neighbor to choose our area.

Wheeling-Nippon Steel helped to get the ball rolling in the Tri-State Area approximately 30 years ago when it opened its plant in Follansbee. Since then, numerous firms from other countries have come to our region. Among the most recent were Canada’s Bidell Gas Compression and Italy’s Pietro Fiorentini, with officials expecting many more as business models and the global economies continue to shift.

Development always takes time, of course, but we are glad to see this project moving forward and we welcome the Fanti Group to Weirton and the Upper Ohio Valley.