Menu
Governor, 3M announce $19 million expansion
Nevada Daily Mail
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon joined 3M Plant Manager Todd Cantrell and Nevada Mayor Seth Barrett, along with a crowd of 3M employees, city, county and state officials, and representatives of the press and media Wednesday morning to announce the company's latest expansion.
The Nevada 3M facility, currently employing 639 workers, specializes in manufacturing commercial graphics and signage.
From its opening in 1971, the Nevada location has become the largest of 3M's operations in Missouri and "is one of the largest in our global network," Cantrell told a packed crowd.
"We're committed to safety, the environment and our customers. Our strength is our people. We continue to be successful here in our city and in our state.
"Our continued investment in the Nevada community will create new job opportunities as we increase the production capacity of this facility.
"3M technologies improve the lives of people all over the world, and we are excited to share our innovations with Nevada and the state of Missouri."
Cantrell said the projected $19 million investment would result in an additional 22 jobs when the project was "fully loaded," which is expected to be in the first quarter of 2015.
"We're in the midst of that investment now," he said following the press conference.
Gov. Nixon hailed the announcement as he affirmed the state's commitment to working with its existing businesses and industries.
Recalling the bleak days of the beginning of the economic downturn, Nixon noted in his remarks to the crowd, "One of the most important early steps (in moving past that downturn) was our strategic plan for economic prosperity. We worked to identify companies in critical industries to make that happen.
"3M is an example of that. They manufacture products worldwide."
Founded in 1902 in St. Paul, Minn., 3M produces thousands of products for a variety of sectors including health care, highway safety, office products and manufacturing, commercial graphics and signage.
The governor gave examples of 3M's contributions from the Nevada plant, from 3M's durable films and vinyl coverings that appear on the giant wall mural at the Kansas City Library that depicts book spines, and the Middle Earth motif for the planes of Air New Zealand, to license plates made in Missouri that utilize 3M technology "developed right here in Nevada."
He pointed to the history of 3M's investment in the state and in Nevada, noting it was "the seventh time that 3M has announced plans to grow right here.
"Again and again, we're seeing global companies like 3M invest in the Show-Me State and hire hard-working Missourians to help grow their business.
"Our superior workforce and pro-business climate continue to create opportunities and spur economic development in every corner of the state.
"This announcement says a lot about the makeup of the folks here, and it says a lot about the economic development in our state and our efforts to grow jobs and the economy."
Expounding on that as he answered questions from a group of reporters following the announcement, he said, "You never pass an old friend to shake a new friend's hand. You go to folks who already have a footprint like 3M.
"These companies can locate anywhere in the world," Nixon noted.
"Competitive zones today are much different. It's no longer states competing against other states for these investments. It's a way, way, bigger picture.
"The differential on these decisions of where to locate and expand is whether the workforce can deliver.
"Companies want to see value from their locations and the opportunity to grow.
"We (the state) are here to be partners in growth," said Nixon.
To assist 3M with its expansion, the state's Department of Economic Development offered a strategic incentive package that the company can receive if it meets strict job creation and investment criteria, according to a press release from the event.
The city of Nevada also partnered with 3M to help make its expansion possible.
"This took a lot of coordination between the Department of Economic Development, 3M and the city," said Nevada City Manager JD Kehrman Thursday following the announcement.
"Today, we are competing on a global basis, with 3M plants all over the world. Yesterday was a strong statement in support of our position.
"This is how you create jobs by incentivizing the small dollars to create the big financial economic impact of good-paying jobs.
"This says a lot about 3M and their willingness to work with us."
"This is an indication of 3M's confidence in the Nevada plant," said Cantrell. "The governor is right on when he talks about the competitive environment. We not only are in competition with our competitors but also with other 3M facilities. We have to tell the story once again about what we can do in Nevada.
"This decision is a reinforcement of that. We've been able to perform in the past and they expect us to do so again."
"The people of Nevada are highly skilled and hard-working and we're thrilled that 3M continues to recognize the value of our technically-skilled workforce by investing and expanding here," said Mayor Barrett.
"3M has been a big part of our community, providing hundreds of good paying jobs for local workers.
"We've had a 40-plus year partnership with 3M. We look forward to another 40 plus years as we continue our partnership with 3M as they grow here in Nevada."
"I was really pleased that this expansion was able to move forward," said Kehrman.
"It (the expansion) has been in the works for some time. We've all been anxiously awaiting the formal announcement that they had won this new investment."
"They've had 43 years of job creation and job growth. It's exciting to be a part of this particular chapter.
"Advanced manufacturing is ideal for our workforce," continued Kehrman, in assessing the broader impact of the expansion. "In southwest Missouri, one in three jobs is located in the manufacturing sector, so this is an important part of the regional economy.
"The mayor talked about 3M's injecting vibrancy and stability into our local economy. And that is important. They have been a stabilizing force for our local economy."
"The announcement of 3M's expansion will be a great addition and is a testament to their commitment in our community," said Nevada Vernon County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Eaton.
"It will continue to add to their employment base, further boost the economy, and build on their foundation for continued growth in the future."