Dearing Compressor and Pump, which packages natural gas compressors, opened in 1945.
Thanks to the Marcellus Shale, a natural gas deposit four hours away in Pennsylvania, business continues to grow 65 years later. So much so that officials at Dearing started building a new production facility.
The nearly 50,000-square-foot expansion is by no means the first one for Dearing. Its actually the third in a 10 year period.
All this growth also means more jobs. Right now, the company employs almost 100 people, and it hopes to add 25 more positions.
But not everyone agrees with the way the project is coming together.
Members of the Western Reserve Building Trades picketed the job sight saying the contractor is not using union workers.
"They're not paying their guys prevailing wages, local area standards," said James Untch. "And out of town people coming in and they aren't spending their money here. They're not paying the taxes here."
However, Hodge Construction officials said they opened the bidding up to union and non-union contractors.
"With the economy we had to award this to the lowest competitive bidder," said Allen Hodge. "And we do have union contractors on this site as well as union suppliers."
Construction should be complete in the next few months. In the meantime, Dearing already sold several production spots.
