Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has announced that $848,667 in Transportation Cabinet funds have been awarded for projects in the Lewis County. On behalf of the Governor, Secretary of the Transportation Cabinet Bill Nighbert presented ceremonial checks to city and county officials during an event today at the Lewis County Courthouse in Vanceburg.

“Governor Fletcher has charged the transportation cabinet with providing a safe and reliable highway network,” Secretary Nighbert stated. “These projects are examples of how we are partnering with local communities in order to accomplish that objective. These improvements will enhance the quality of life for residents of the city of Vanceburg and Lewis County.”

KYTC bond funds account for $575,000. Those funds will be used in the following manner: $550,000 to the citizens of Lewis County to resurface Holly Branch Road and $25,000 to the city of Vanceburg to resurface various city streets.

Secretary Nighbert also presented a check for $153,172 from federal safety-hazard elimination funds to Lewis County to perform safety improvements on AA Highway (KY 9). The county received an additional check totaling $120,495 from state construction funds to add rumble strips and stripe the AA Highway.

“As chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and as a member of the Transportation Committee, I want to always spend our taxpayers’ monies in the best, most efficient manner. Certainly providing dollars to improve our municipal and county roads and replacing and repairing bridges are at the top of the list,” said Senator Charlie Borders (R-Russell). “I commend the Transportation Cabinet and Secretary Nighbert on the great job they are doing in making available the dollars for safer roads and bridges. Due to efficiencies, the cabinet is realizing annual savings of $70 million. At the same time, more contracts are being let than at any other time in history. This entire savings goes back into building and resurfacing even more roads. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”

The acquisition will position Superior Fibers as the largest glass fiber filtration manufacturer in the world, according to Superior Fibers Board Chairman Bill Miller.

"This as an exciting acquisition," Miller stated, "that places Superior Fibers in a dominant position with a market presence that insures a bright future for the company." He went on to say that the companies’ combined capacities will continue to strengthen market presence and ensure a solid future for each plant, which will benefit their surrounding communities.

Currently, Superior Fibers operates three Ohio plants located in Bremen and Obetz. The purchase will expand operations to include manufacturing plants in Shawnee, Ohio, Reedsville, West Virginia, and Vanceburg. The combined operations of all plant locations will support more than 525 jobs. In addition, several new corporate positions will be created at the Bremen headquarters.

Superior Fibers manufactures fiberglass filtration media for both the HVAC and paint arrestor markets, as well as reinforcement mats for the composites industry.

 Hollinee produces similar filtration products under the Fibair name along with complimentary composite products. Both companies sell their products worldwide.

Additionally, Superior Fibers will be combining their line of reinforcements with the Hollinee Nicofibers brand of reinforcements and surfacing veils for the Composites Industry. The combination of the two lines will allow for a stronger market presence and new innovation opportunities.

Founded in 1984, Superior Fibers was created by an investment purchase of the Modiglass business division of the Reichold Chemical Company. The merger with Hollinee LLC, founded in 1974, is viewed by Superior Fibers' CEO David Miller as a natural evolution within the marketplace.

"Demand for ever-increasing customer quality and service improvement," the CEO stated, "requires that companies continually look for areas to gain a strategic advantage while reducing costs. Combining both companies into one will allow for Superior Fibers to remain in the forefront of the markets within which we serve."