CELINA-It was announced last Friday by the Clay County Partnership Chamber of Commerce that V & F Transformer Corporation located in Bartlett (IL) will be occupying the former Hevi Duty Transformer plant here.

The exact date will be determined later as the economy and order rates recover and the transfer schedule of machinery and equipment is completed, officials said. 

The details of a ten year lease/purchase contract have been formalized between the Celina/Clay County Joint Industrial Development Board (pictured above and identified at bottom of story) and V & F Transformer Corporation.

V & F Transformer Corporation was founded by the late Anthony Joseph Foderaro, Sr. in 1963 in the basement of his home in Glenview (IL) and grew to the current 30,000 square foot Bartlett facility. V & F is currently owned and managed by two of the founder’s sons, Fran Foderaro, President and Dean Foderaro, Vice-President and CFO who grew up learning and working in the transformer business. Additionally, there are third generation Foderaro family members active in the company.

V & F has transformer manufacturing interests in both Mexico and China in addition to the Bartlett facility, and is poised to grow a significant presence in the Southeast market of the U.S. for the larger capacity transformers, officials said. 

The Hevi Duty facility was idled in February 2008 and donated in February of this year to Celina and subsequently transferred to the Celina/Clay County Joint Industrial Development Board.

Initial employment is expected to be sixteen employees and grow as the overall economy recovers. When the detailed moving schedule is finalized an announcement will be made regarding accepting applications for employment.

President of V & F Transformer Corporation, Fran Foderaro said, “Dean and I would first like to thank the entire board including Ray Norris for all of their hard work and dedication in helping to finalize this contract which will only help employment in the town of Celina. As has been mentioned previously there is a wealth of knowledge and transformer expertise in the many employees that worked at this facility before it closed. The availability of these experienced and dedicated folks, the instant friendships and agreements in business philosophies in general that arose in our many meetings with the board and others are the reasons for our moving to the town of Celina. We plan on being a real part of the community not just another employer. 

“Many times since we met with Ray, board members and local officials we kept repeating that old saying of this being a ‘win-win’ for both sides,” Fodaro said. “It truly is that, but not only for the town, it’s officials and V & F Transformer and its new employees but also the many secondary businesses and local vendors that our company will need to do business every day. In closing we would like to give thanks to the many unnamed people who also helped the board and V & F Transformer make this happen.  From Dean, myself and our entire crew, we cannot wait to move in and get down to business with the fine people of Celina!”

“All of us on the ID Board are very excited with the possibilities this company has to offer for the citizens of Clay County,” said Joint Celina Clay County Industrial Development Board President Randall Killman. “I know V & F will be a wonderful asset to Clay County and give good job opportunities to many of the people in our community. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who worked so diligently to make this a reality. All of the ID board members who gave of their time so freely, Mayor Reagan and Mayor Thompson for their support and hard work, Ray Norris of the Chamber for putting everything together, Ike Bonecutter, Travis Cherry, SOLA Hevi-Duty and of course the guys with V & F. This is another example that Clay County still has a lot to offer business and hopefully much more will come in the future.”

Celina Mayor Buddy Thompson said, “On behalf of Celina and as the city Mayor, I am very pleased with the announcement of V & F Transformer Corporation coming to our city. During these tough economic times that our nation is facing, I am so pleased and thrilled that V & F has blessed our community with their business. The city of Celina welcomes Fran Foderaro, President and Dean Foderaro, Vice President, who are second-generation family members that own and operate this business.”

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said, “We are very blessed that a company of this character has decided to locate in our county. In these difficult economic times it is very hard to find companies planning to expand or relocate. Therefore, we would like to welcome V & F Transformer to our county and look forward to working with them for many years to come. I would also like to add that this project was made possible by the hard work and long hours of many people working together. Their work is greatly appreciated.”

“I agree with all the previous comments and wish to thank dozens of people who played a role in the V & F story, including the twelve businessmen and women that contributed Clay County products as hospitality gifts to the V & F folks at our very first meeting in February of 2008 and the Cedar Hill folks that arranged the house boat tour of Dale Hollow Lake,” said Chamber Executive Director Ray Norris. “We also want to thank the ten former Hevi-Duty production folks that made many trips to the Bartlett plant and worked many weeks demonstrating the high quality skills and work ethic that is available to V & F in Clay County.  

“There were hundreds and hundreds of hours invested in this effort and this demonstrates what can be done with many people participating and working together to reach an objective in spite of several obstacles including the 1973 discrepancy on the property title and the current national recession. Again, many thanks to many people,” Norris said.

LEASE SIGNING-The Celina/Clay County Joint Industrial Development Board signed a lease with V & F Transformer Corporation at its June meeting last week. On hand for the signing were board members (seated, l-r) Paula Boone, Don Haston, Randall Killman (president) and Danny Nevans. Standing are Clay County Mayor and board member Dale Reagan, chamber of commerce director Ray Norris and board members Greg Meadows and Jed Donaldson. (Staff photo by Kevin Donaldson)