An official with a major manufacturing firm which announced plans last week to establish a new production and warehousing facility in Jonesburg said the company was “very fortunate” to find the location which was chosen. CertainTeed Corporation of Valley Forge, Pa., plans to construct a new state-of-the-art asphalt roofing shingle manufacturing and distribution facility which could provide approximately 100 new jobs to the area. Maintenance services and support operations in areas such as trucking and welding — which will be needed when the facility is completed — could result in an additional 400 local jobs.The company is expected to invest approximately $100 million in its new facility. “This company started in the St. Louis area, so it’s great to be coming home,” said Peter Chihlas, project manager for the new facility. “We looked at quite a few properties in Missouri and neighboring states,” Chihlas added, noting that CertainTeed officials had a “very definite” set of criteria for the site. Factors which were considered included acreage, proximity to an interstate and railroad.“This piece of property had most of what we wanted,” Chihlas stated.In an effort to assist CertainTeed move forward with its plans, the company was offered a strategic economic incentive package from the state of Missouri, according to a statement from the office of Gov. Jay Nixon. CertainTeed will receive the economic incentives if strict job creation and investment criteria are met.Construction is expected to begin this summer on a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility which will produce CertainTeed’s Landmark roofing shingles. The facility also will feature a 150,000-square-foot warehouse that will serve as a Midwestern distribution site for all of the company’s roofing products, according to company officials. No definite date for the start of construction has been determined, Chihlas said, adding that company officials are in the “due diligence” process finalizing terms of the agreement for the site. “We’re making sure the land is as it appears to be — an appropriate, clean piece of property,” Chihlas stated. “Once we get through the due diligence period, we’ll settle on the land, if all goes well.” The warehouse is expected to begin operations in 2014, Chihlas stated. Manufacturing is anticipated to get under way in 2016. The facility will be built on a 186-acre parcel at Scudder Ranch Road and the Interstate 70 South Service Road. The Warren County portion of the property — encompassing 131 acres — was rezoned in February after interest was expressed in using the tract for industrial purposes. The 55-acre portion of the tract in Montgomery County already was zoned for industrial use. “Our roofing shingles have protected generations of homeowers throughout North America since our founding by George Brown more than a century ago,” said Tom Smith, CertainTeed Roofing president. “The Jonesburg plant plays a strategic role in meeting the ongoing demand for CertainTeed roofing shingles in the Midwest and ensuring top-notch service to key customers,” Smith added. During a competitive site selection process, officials from Warren County, Montgomery County, the city of Jonesburg and the state of Missouri worked together on an economic development package to support the project. “As the site chosen for this large project straddles the Warren-Montgomery County line, strong regional collaboration was essential to our success,” said Josh Beck, business development consultant with the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council. “Special thanks goes to the leadership of Warren County, Montgomery County and the city of Jonesburg for recognizing the shared economic impact of this project.” “We’ve gotten such a wonderful and positive response from our future neighbors, and it’s very encouraging to know that we have a budding relationship with the community similar to the kind of relationships we have at our other plants throughout the country,” Chihlas stated. “We try to make positive differences in the communities we come to, and we’re looking for the same kind of relationships with Jonesburg and the surrounding areas. “If the work we’ve done so far with community representatives is any indication, this will be a win for our company and the community,” he added.