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State Sen. Ryan Weld, during last week's ceremonial ribbon cutting for Pure Watercraft, probably said it best when he noted, "Anybody who comes here, you're a stranger once."
Pure Watercraft, a company based in Seattle, announced its plans last August to open a manufacturing facility within the Beech Bottom Industrial Park to build its electric pontoon boats and electric outboard motors. The plan includes the creation of 100 new jobs for the community.
Even though operations are still a bit away, the company has made efforts to get to know the residents and businesses of Brooke County. Construction is ongoing on its planned area of the former Wheeling Corrugating facility, with new floors put in, doors being framed and other preparations under way. That means work for those in the trades.
As part of last week's festivities, company officials, including President and CEO Andrew Rebele, were on hand to take special guests on a few demonstration voyages on the river using one of their electric pontoons. A second event was open to area residents who wanted to learn more and see the boat in action for themselves.
In other words, Pure Watercraft is quickly finding its way into becoming a part of the community. This isn't a company that will set up shop and hide behind its walls.
While the idea of an electric pontoon may seem strange to many of us here in coal and steel country, it represents opportunity for us just the same as any of our more traditional manufacturing operations.
Our economy has had more than its share of ups and downs in recent years, but those ups are always welcome, especially when we see those new neighbors making a positive contribution and being an active part of their new town, village, city or county.
Pure Watercraft will not be a stranger in our communities. That's already being shown. So, from one neighbor to another, we simply say welcome home.