“ One of the chips on my shoulder is about Southern West Virginia and the idea that all we have here is coal mining. I want to be a diamond in Southern West Virginia.”
US Gearworks
When Diana Barnette and her husband were unable to find gears to conduct underground mining equipment repairs, it slowed production for their mining repair business and identified a larger supply chain issue in the state. The couple decided to address this issue directly by opening US Gearworks, a new gear manufacturing facility in Holden, WV.
Gleason Manufacturing, a Rochester, NY-based company, is providing the equipment for the facility and sent trainers and technicians in to get the site up and running in early April 2026. Barnette says the company then plans to do a soft opening, slowly hiring its first wave of employees. US Gearworks also has a partnership with Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center to train additional employees.
Barnette says US Gearworks plans to grow to 70 employees by recruiting and training Mountain State residents.
“ One of the chips on my shoulder is about Southern West Virginia and the idea that all we have here is coal mining,” she says.“ I want to be a diamond in Southern West Virginia.”
US Gearworks has worked with the West Virginia Economic Development Authority( WVEDA) and West Virginia Department of Economic Development throughout this $ 20 million project, a partnership Barnette says was essential in bringing the new site to fruition.
“ It makes me feel better knowing I had the support of the WVEDA and Department of Economic Development,” she says.“ If I had gone to a bank for this funding, it wouldn’ t have been able to carry that and wouldn’ t have put all its eggs in this basket,” she says.
US Gearworks plans to start manufacturing for the coal industry, but through hiring salespeople and making contacts, it could eventually begin operating in other places around the country. With interest already shown from subway systems in New York and Gleason spreading the word about the new facility, growth is almost certain.
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