High-class glass

Now, it´s a booming area that is continually under development. Viracon, a glass fabrication facility, is the latest production facility to make its home in the industrial park.

Tuesday morning Viracon had its ribbon-cutting. Several people attended the ceremony including Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of Economic Development Corporation of Utah.

"It is stunning to see the level of sophistication in Fort Pierce," Edwards said. "This building has really raised the bar."
Scott Hirschi, director of the Washington County economic development council, said Viracon invested $35 million into the community along with providing 134 jobs for locals.

He added that the company officials plan to double the number of jobs at the facility in two years.

Christine Shaffer, spokeswoman for Viracon, said they broke ground on the facility about a year ago. The St. George facility is the third in the nation. There is a facility in Georgia and one in Minnesota.

The reason Viracon wanted a third facility was because officials wanted to concentrate on the southwestern part of the United States.

Pyatt said company officials had the chance to think about where they needed to be in the southwest. Since the construction industry is booming in several parts they believed a presence here was needed.

He said they decided to focus on Las Vegas, Phoenix, Ariz., southern California and eastward. St. George was a central location for all of those destinations.