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ELIZABETH - Greg Stover smiled through the entire press conference. He couldn't help himself.

The plant manager at Mustang Survival's Elizabeth facility is returning to the former B.F. Goodrich Building in Spencer and he's bringing jobs with him.

Thursday, Stover was among the assembled group of Mustang Survival officials, employees and local and state officials including Gov. Joe Manchin who announced the company was expanding into Spencer.

Manchin told a crowd of about 100 the company will open the plant in Roane County bringing about 100 jobs into a county with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.

"It is really, really encouraging," Manchin said. "When you have something happening it brings attention. It has a building effect."

The announcement was especially sweet for Stover, who worked at the Goodrich plant in Spencer before it closed.

"It is really exciting," he said.

Mustang CEO Bob Askew said the new plant, which has been in the works for a few months, would be open in July or August and initially employ 20. Company officials hope to hire as many as 100 workers for the new site.

The new jobs will focus on sewing everything from personal flotation devices to suits for fighter pilots.

In March, Mustang announced expansion plans focusing on potential sites in Wood and Roane County. Job fairs in both counties yielded hundreds of applicants.

"We didn't pick Roane County," Askew said. "They picked us. They didn't just show up in numbers. They showed up in numbers with skills."

"Once Mustang saw the skill sets of the potential employees of Roane County their decision was made," said Mark Whitley, Roane County economic development director.

Mustang Survival, a Canada-based company, also operates facilities in British Columbia and Washington. The company moved into Wirt County in 1999 when it purchased Wirt Inflatable, which started in 1978.

Askew said the success of the Elizabeth site fueled the company's continued growth in the area.

"This has been a success here and we are trying to expand that success," he said.

Manchin recalled visiting the Mustang facility a few times, including during his inaugural campaign for governor. He credited the plant's employees, many of whom are female, with making the Elizabeth site a success and driving the company's expansion plans.

"We are celebrating because of what you have done," he said.

Manchin lauded Mustang's investment into Spencer, calling small business the backbone of the state.

"When you have corporations willing to make these types of investments in small, rural areas it speaks volumes of the workforce," he said. "The bottom line: We have to bring more attention to the skill sets and what the work force has to offer."