* WHAT :* Exhibitors from 37 m anufacturers and university researchers will convene at the State Capitol to enhance lawmakersawareness about the importance of manufacturing to the State and to promote their role in Gov. Joe ManchinsOpen for Businessplan through industrial energy efficiency and waste reduction efforts. The West Virginia Technology Association will also be on hand.

WHY: West Virginia is home to manufacturers of aluminum, steel, glass, chemicals, metal casting, and wood/forest products representing 75 percent of the states manufacturing gross state product and 65 percent of the states manufacturing employment. The rising cost of energy is one of the most critical issues facing these energy-intensive industries. IOF -WVs goal is to work with these industries to help them increase the efficiency of their processes to conserve energy and minimize waste, thus having a positive impact on the economy of the state.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 22 , exhibits open from 8 a.m.3 p.m.; interviews available from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rotunda, West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston, W.Va.

WHO: Available for interviews: IOF -WV co-directors Carl Irwin , the WVU National Research Center for Coal and Energy, and Jeff Herholdt , West Virginia Development Office, can provide an overview of IOF -WV and the purpose of the event. Several manufacturers will be available, including:

Richard Bowlby of Burke-Parsons-Bowlby , makers of wood products for bridges and homes, will have a 5-inch sample cube of their product made entirely in West Virginia. The material starts as native yellow poplar, is manufactured in Buckhannon by Trus Joist, and is chemically treated in Spencer by Burke-Parsons-Bowlby with chemicals made by Koppers in Follansbee, who makes the chemicals from coal.

Joe Givens of Matthews Bronze of Kingwood will have samples of the bronze memorials that grace every veterans grave anywhere in the world. Matthews Bronze is the exclusive contractor producing 600 memorials a day for the Veterans Administration who provides them free of charge to all veteransfamilies.

Beautiful West Virginia glass products, from childrens marbles to fine crystal, made by Marble King Inc., Fenton Art Glass Co., Blenko Art Glass Co., Paul Wissmach Glass Co. and Judel Products will be on display. We recommend interviews with Tom Mason of Judel Products .

See attached complete list of exhibitors.

IOF-WV is a cooperative effort between the WVU National Research Center for Coal and Energy and the West Virginia Development Office. The program forms partnerships between West Virginia companies, WVU researchers, and National Laboratories to address the energy and waste concerns of the states energy-intensive industries.

2005 IOF -WV Day at the State Capitol

Exhibitors

• Allegheny Process Systems

• Appalachian Log Structures

• Breen Energy Solutions

• Burke-Parsons-Bowlby

• Capredoni Crystal

• CDI Engineering

• Chemical Alliance Zone

• Glass Exhibitproducts from Marble King, Inc., Fenton Art Glass Company, Blenko Art Glass Company, Paul Wissmach Glass Company, and Judel Products

• Glennville State College

• Governors workforce Investment

• Hamer Pellet Co.

• Industries of the FutureWest Virginia

• Institute for Scientific Research

• Marshall University CEGAS

• Marshall University IDEA

• MATRIC

• Matthews International

• MPL Corp.

• National Biometric Security Project

• Performance Matrix LLC

• Pratt&Whitney

• Robert C. Byrd Institute

• Seneca Communications

• Terradon Communications Group

• TMC Technologies West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

• West Virginia Division of Forestry

• West Virginia Executive

• West Virginia Forestry Association

• West Virginia Technology Association

• WVU Carbon Products Program

• WVU Division of Forestry-Appalachian Hardwood Center

• WVU National Research Center for Coal&Energy

• WVU Office of Information Technology