SOUTH POINT

— The Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence Economic Development Corporation will host a building dedication of one structure and a groundbreaking ceremony for another new building Friday at The Point industrial park.

Engine Inc. has purchased spec building No. 2 at the park and installed two railroad tracks with two cranes on each side.

The building is 42,000 square feet, with two 80-ft wide bays 200 feet long.

“It’s probably the finest heavy industry building in Lawrence County,” said Dr. Bill W. Dingus, executive director of the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation .

Engine Inc. has created 123 jobs to build railroad car parts. Several pieces of machinery cost more than $1 million.

The new building will be a 32,800 square-foot facility and it will be subdivided into smaller units.

The building is owned by the LEDC and it will be leased to various commercial, offices and light manufacturing concerns.

There will be up to four separate businesses in the facility, two with the ability to drive trucks in from the back and two with loading docks. More loading docks could be added, Dingus said.

“We want the business itself to dictate making any changes,” he said. “Our belief is that we have a tremendous number of businesses who would like to come to the Tri-State area.

We believe that some of these businesses will grow and develop and move forward.”

Fred Diehl, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, and Ohio Rep. Clyde Evans will be on hand for the ceremony.

“We offer a special invitation to former employees of the Allied Chemical plant and South Point Ethanol plant and we will take tours of the new facilities in the park,” Dingus said. “I think this will be rewarding to the former employees.”

All through the process of building, citizens and officials working together as a team helped bring about the progress of The Point, he said.

“We’re one of the bright spots in Ohio,” Dingus said. “We sincerely hope that many people will come Friday.”

To RSVP for lunch or for any questions about the event, call (740) 377-4550 or e-mail cofcagency@zoominternet.net.