Shale POWER hosts workshop on opportunities available within oil and gas industry
Shale POWER hosted a workshop on Monday morning that featured speakers from the oil and gas industry in order to inform manufacturers of the opportunities available within the field.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Shale POWER hosted a workshop on Monday morning that featured speakers from the oil and gas industry in order to inform manufacturers of the opportunities available within the field.
And those around the Ohio Valley were glad to bring some awareness to the topic.
"We want to explain to the general public and our region that oil and gas is more than just worldly payments and bonus payments,” said Robert Naylor, executive director, Jefferson County Port Authority.
“It is an important part of our economic sector and there are opportunities for local manufacturers, local businesses to get involved in the energy related supply chain."
The workshop targeted manufacturing companies in the Ohio Valley and how they can learn how to take advantage of the program to strategically plan business opportunities in the energy supply chain throughout Appalachia. The industry has spent hundreds of billions in this region.
"So, there's a lack of awareness and we just want to make people aware of what’s going on, how to track the industry, where the supply chain opportunities are, and, more importantly, to help make those connections with them so that they can increase sales, hire more local people," said Matt Henderson, Shale POWER.
Shale POWER, a federally funded program to benefit local manufacturers, stands for Pennsylvania, Ohio West Virginia Economic Renaissance.
They assist coal-impacted communities by building capacity among manufacturers, driving economic impact, and stimulating job creation. Now, they just want to get a conversation going.
"So, by the end today, we want some companies and local economic development people to say 'hey, there are opportunities here.' We have the tools necessary to get this conversation started and let's continue to work with the local community," Henderson said.
Jefferson County is just one of the spots that the Shale POWER program is trying to inform people about the opportunities in the oil and gas industry.