By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

CONVENT – St. James economic development officials recently said an Indiana-based chrome wheel-plating firm is close to setting up shop in St. James Parish.

Economic Development consultant Steve Nosacka told parish council members that officials with Winona PVD Coatings are interested in expanding their reach into St. James. He said it is essentially a “done deal” that they will build a facility in the very near future.

“The group is simply following the auto industry to the deep south, where manufacturing plants have become more commonplace,” Nosacka said. “The company would supply manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana with chrome plated wheels.”

Nosacka added the company’s chrome plating process is also environmentally friendly, saying the company uses G-Chrome or “green chrome” in the plating process.

According to the Winona PVD Coatings website, the company uses a high tech process to chrome plate vehicle rims making the rims lighter and more fuel efficient. The plating process requires a powder coat base and powder coat primer, which is followed by a chrome-plating process and a clear coat process, which makes the rim last longer.

The process is considered a “green process” since few if any chemicals are used throughout the plating. It also does not require disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Nosacka said a new plant in St. James would be the second overall for the Indiana-based firm.

He said the facility would likely require about 20 acres of land and could employ as many as 100 people within three years.

“The company has told us they need transportation access that we can offer,” Nosacka said.

“They really want to be in south Louisiana, and we hope to bring them here.”

Nosacka explained the blank wheels are shipped in through the Port of New Orleans and then trucked to an Indiana plant.

He said a new location in St. James would address transportation concerns and help the company save on fuel costs from extended shipping.

The company is expected to have a final decision on the plant and a location by early next year.

It is not yet clear where the facility would be located.