Dust Off the Rust

In 2012, oil company Royal Dutch Shell announced plans to build a petrochemical plant in Appalachia. Realizing that this new fracking plant was an enormous opportunity, states in this region swarmed the corporation with enticements of tax breaks and cheaper land. This factory could possibly be enough to bring some of the rust belt regions out of their depression. 

After careful consideration of the area’s overall infrastructure and a lil’ incentive of a $1.65 billion dollar tax break, the executives at Shell decided on forging their manufactory here. And so construction on the plant began in 2015.

The economic opportunity this plant brings in undeniable. Upon completion, 600 full-time positions will open up at the complex. Construction of the plant alone has offered as many as 6,000 well-paying jobs. For example, 1,500 jobs have been provided to steamfitters in the region, some of whom will make as much as $100,000 per year. 

But the hope is that the benefits of Shell’s plant will extend further than the immediate recipients of jobs. 

Shell’s External Relations Manager Chris Heitman refers to the plant as a “cornerstone to economic development” for the region. This means that the plant will act as a magnet, drawing in other businesses and industries that support what is being done at the plant. The plant will attract plastic manufacturers, which will bring consumer/industrial goods manufacturers. Both of which gather more people into the area, resulting in an increased number of restaurants, hotels, and other industry service providers.

Shell has also made efforts to invest in future generations. By funding STEM labs and sending engineers to talk about career opportunities with students, Shell is attempting to arm the youth with education. Which will hopefully produce a generation of qualified individuals who have the ability to work at high-end jobs. 

In this way, the petrochemical plant could very well be the start of a flourishing economy in Beaver County.