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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Research laboratories, national corporations and homegrown businesses are some of the ventures found at business and industrial parks throughout the area.

"We are open to almost anything, whether it is manufacturing, high-tech, warehouse or office space, or whatever anyone can imagine," said Susan Douglas, executive director of the Community Improvement Corp. of the Belmont County Department of Development regarding Fox Commerce Park, west of St. Clairsville.

Additional local business or industrial parks that are open for development include the Jefferson County Industrial Park and New Horizons near Steubenville; the Harrison County Industrial Park near Cadiz; Marshall County Industrial Park in McMechen; Wetzel County Industrial Park in New Martinsville; Half Moon Industrial Park in Weirton; Brooke Industrial Park in Beech Bottom; Davenport Business Park near Sistersville; the Bens Run Industrial Park near Friendly; and The Millennium Center in Triadelphia.

The Wheeling Industrial Park in the Peninsula portion of the city, as well as the East Cove Industrial Park in Elm Grove, are considered full, as is the Dallas Pike Industrial Park.

Though roughly 90 acres remain open for development at Fox Commerce, the park currently houses FedEx Freight East, SewBiz Computer Embroidery, Ohio Heat Transfer, ResCare, Mack's Gypsum, Tim's Custom Installation and Tomorrow's Corner.

"We know that these are local people who are fulfilling their lifelong dreams of owning businesses," Douglass said. "We look for these businesses to stay there for a long time.

"The benefits of an industrial park used to be to have a shovel-ready site for a large development," she added. "Now we have to focus on smaller types of manufacturing and high-tech jobs."

Douglass said some people thought Fox Commerce would be "nothing but a line of factories" when it opened in 2004. Though some may be disappointed in the park, do not count SewBiz owner Linda Shepherd among them.

"We did more business in October than we did in all of 2007," she said, noting she moved her shop to Fox Commerce from her basement in Bethesda in March. "Everyone here helps each other and works together," she added of the park tenants.

Lisa and Greg Kazmirski, owners of the Tomorrow's Corner adult care center, opened at the park in June 2008.

"The location is really great for us. And everyone out here treats the park like its own little neighborhood," Lisa Kazmirski said.

"What makes Fox Commerce attractive is that it is surrounded by housing, entertainment, transportation and education. Location is its most important asset," Douglass added.

Meanwhile, Touchstone Research Laboratory calls The Millennium Centre home. The company is a research and development organization that invents products to help business and industry.

Brian Joseph, president and chief operating officer for Touchstone, said the company would not be where it is today without the help of the Regional Economic Development Partnership, which is in charge of the center.

"RED has been wonderful in working with us to help us have this unique opportunity for our operation," he said.

Though Touchstone is the center's only company, Joseph believes industrial parks create an environment that allows businesses to share ideas.

Karri Mulhern, work force manager for RED, said some of the businesses currently operating at the Wheeling Industrial Park include National Belt Service, Techlar, Essential Freight Services, W.A. Wilson, Safety Kleen, Anchor Longwall and Tradet Laboratories. Sledd Co., Custom Marble and Uwanta Linen call the East Cove Industrial Park home.

The Dallas Pike Industrial Park has offices for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Techseal and Silgan Plastics. The Wetzel County Industrial Park houses Superior Oilfield Services, while the Marshall County Industrial Park hosts Arrow Concrete.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, said the Jefferson County Industrial Park currently houses Wildfire Motors, QPI Tools, R-Way Trucking, Access 2 Communications and Signs Limited.

"Progress Alliance recently added street lights to Technology Way, the main street in the park, and began construction on a secondary road," he said.

Eric Peters, president of the Tyler County Development Authority, said Aleris International, Proviron America and Dana Transport currently occupy the Bens Run Industrial Park.

"The Davenport Business Park is still unoccupied. It has all the necessary infrastructure in place," he said. "We have concentrated on the Bens Run Industrial Park during the past several years, but we are in the process of developing a long range development plan for Davenport."