From Ottawa to Romney

Canadian technology leader finds success in rural West Virginia community.

By Charles Dexter Ward

What does Ottawa, Ontario have in common with Romney, West Virginia? Both are now home to T-Base Communications Inc., an international leader in information and data transcription for government and industry.

"As Canada's largest producer of alternative information formats, we've applied technology in a variety of areas from converting printed material into Braille for the blind to developing the world's first talking bank machine," said Leonard J. Fowler, president and CEO.

"With a significant portion of our business involved in assisting American government agencies and industry, expanding into the United States became appropriate in 2001."

Next enter Christine Gardner, who as manager of Canadian/National Accounts for West Virginia Development Office, primarily works on attracting business investment to West Virginia from Canadian companies.

"As a principal with T-Base Communications, Mr. Fowler contacted me to discuss the possibility of locating in West Virginia. He especially liked our proximity to Washington, D.C., and he was very interested in a rural area of a smaller state with a work force that had attributes like ours," she said.

Gardner described West Virginia's work force training grants, and its low-interest loans to county development authorities or relocating companies set up to assist with building acquisition, improvements and the purchase of equipment. She also outlined state incentives that, depending on the type of industry, may also provide tax credits to companies locating in West Virginia.

"Then Fowler mentioned the Braille format to me," she continued. "I immediately thought of the school for the deaf and blind in Romney. Even though other counties were being considered, the school for the deaf and blind there made it a perfect fit for this company.

"So, I called Dave Pancake, executive director of the Hampshire County Development Authority, to discuss the company's interest in West Virginia and the availability of work force, buildings, and other considerations. We met with the school administrators to discuss training and employment issues and to take advantage of the school's expertise and work force training programs for the blind."

"He worked very hard at ensuring we had access to every bit of information we desired," Fowler agreed. "Without his assistance, we may very well have located elsewhere. But he is very good, and his dedication to Hampshire County and the Romney community in particular are a major reason we located there. "

"Our first contact with T-Base was in September 2001," said Pancake, taking up the story. "And we received the company's commitment to locate in Romney in late October 2001.

"That sounds quick, and it is, but as Mr. Fowler has said, Romney fit the company's criteria perfectly. It is within a day's drive of most eastern and midwestern cities, West Virginia offers a good standard of living and a low crime rate for his employees; it is a place with an aggressive education program and a great work force. The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind provides his company an added plus."

Pancake also noted that Romney and Hampshire County have just completed a five-year infrastructure investment program totaling over $20 million. These investments include central water and sewer expansion, 110,000 square feet of additional manufacturing space, and a new 90-acre full-service Technology Park minutes from the Interstate 81 North/South corridor.

"And we break ground, in the Tech Park, on a new 40,000 square-foot speculative manufacturing facility in June 2003," he added.

"Like T-Base Communications, other businesses will find our location, which is central to the Atlantic seaboard, and makes an ideal location for production or distribution facilities. Our companies can ship to the southern auto manufactures and the Detroit auto manufacturers for about the same cost just as they can receive raw materials and components in an efficient and timely manner."

Along with market proximity, rural Hampshire County's strongest asset is its labor force. "Our workers are affordable and available," said Pancake

"Our employers will tell you that the rural West Virginia labor force has a strong work ethic. Simply put, they go to work. And they typically out produce their peers in an adjoining state two to one.

"Here in rural Hampshire County, our game plan is to win the game with base hits. We have been very successful in recruiting businesses that are starting out with an average 10 to 25 jobs, then helping them achieve steady growth and increase their employment right here."

As an example, he pointed to a local company that produces electronic components. "They started out four years ago with 30 workers and have grown their employment to a current total of 120.

"The strategy of lowering your radar and looking at smaller companies also helps build employment and economic diversity," Pancake said.

"A rural location may be a lot to ask of a major corporation in the midst of expansion. Executives tend to shy away due to the perception of a lack of services and lifestyle for their employees. But, if a company grows from a start up in a rural location the employment base is well adjusted and has great community support."

He said that T-Base Communications USA fits that scenario very well. "They are very community oriented; in fact, Len Fowler announced during their welcoming ceremony, that they had established an annual $1,000 scholarship for a visually impaired student taking business courses at the secondary education level."

"In determining our U.S. location, community acceptance was certainly one of the requirements on our check list," Fowler said. "To succeed there, we knew the community in which we located would have to be supportive of our business being there. By community, I mean the general business and social community at the grass roots level-not just the development office. And ideally, we wanted the community to have at least some employable people with disabilities who were currently unemployed."

Other items on the T-Base site checklist included: a well trained labor pool with a good work ethic, strategic access to major markets, and a state government supportive of the company's business (both in terms of permitting bids on State contracts and offering assistance in doing business with the federal government).

As Fowler added, "The cost savings of locating in an area outside of the big cities in terms of facilities and labor pool is certainly a factor no company should overlook."