A large crowd of interested residents, local government officials, elected representatives, and company owners and employees gathered at the V&F Transformer plant in Celina Monday, March 12 to officially welcome the company to Clay County and Celina. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place after speeches by Celina Mayor Willie Kerr, Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan, State Representative Kelly Keisling, State Senator Mae Beavers, Congressman Diane Black, Clay Chamber Director Ray Norris, and Fran Foderaro and Dean Foderaro, Jr. of V&F. The plant currently has about a dozen employees and expects to increase that number as production ramps up.

CELINA-The culmination of a four year process took place here at the expansion location for V&F Transformer of Bartlett, Illinois as a large crowd of interested residents, local government officials, elected state and U.S. representatives, and company owners and employees gathered for a ribbon cutting celebration and official welcoming of the company to Celina and Clay County.

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan told how the process got started, “Soon after I took office I got notice that Hevi-Duty would be closing their plant here and I knew it would be a big blow to our local economy. Then I got a call from Travis Cherry who told me he knew of another transformer company who might be interested in coming to Celina. I told him “Let’s get it done,” and through the efforts of especially Ray Norris, the Industrial Development Board, Travis, and many many others we now have this new employer here and what a great group they are, they have become like family. Thanks to all of you who have made this come true.”

V&F Co-owner Fran Foderaro stated how happy his family and company was to be here and that initial reaction from customers to products made in the Celina plant was very favorable.

“We are excited about what this area has to offer in skilled labor and expect to hire more of it as production ramps up,” said Dean Foderaro, Jr., a third generation member of the family business in his remarks to those present.