Central States, Inc., an employee-owned metal manufacturing company, recently held a ribbon cutting for its new facility in Tooele, Utah. Central States produces metal building components for residential, commercial, and agricultural projects.  

The company first announced its expansion to Tooele City in June 2023, after working with EDCUtah, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and several Utah partners to evaluate locations for their next manufacturing facility. One year after discussing the project’s early plans, we caught up with CEO Jim Sliker to discuss this major milestone and what’s next for the company’s Utah operations. ‍

Looking back over the past year, what have been the major milestones leading to the ribbon cutting?

Sliker: Like any large construction project, there were the typical steps—breaking ground, closing the building, installing and validating equipment. But this plant is unique for us because it’s our first facility west of the Rocky Mountains. That brought new challenges in supply chain, logistics, and business processes.

One big milestone was hiring a plant manager. Jered Chandler relocated his family to Utah to take on that role, and he’s been the boots on the ground, leading the project.

Another milestone was resolving power supply issues. We worked closely with Rocky Mountain Power, and once we knew that was no longer a pacing item, it was a huge relief.

We also built a new supply chain strategy, including rail service directly into the back of the facility—another first for us. Validating that logistics model was key. And finally, beginning to hire and train our first group of employees was critical to preparing for production.

Hiring has been a big part of the process. How is that going so far?

Sliker: We currently have a small team of eight, with a mix of relocations and local hires, but we’re ramping up quickly. Our immediate need is production technicians, the frontline people making our products. Getting them hired and trained is essential so that when the plant is ready, we can serve customers right away.

We’re working with Tooele Mayor Debbie Winn, local partners, and others to make sure our total rewards package—pay, profit sharing, stock ownership, and benefits—is competitive in this market. ‍

Central States is an employee-owned company. How does that ownership model shape a project like this?

Sliker: Employee ownership is central to everything we do. Our purpose is to provide well-being and financial freedom for employee-owners and their families. That drives decisions like this expansion.

We also want to integrate new employee-owners into our culture right away—helping them understand our DNA, our promise to customers, and how the business works. Just as importantly, we want to connect with the community. Even before having people on the ground in Tooele, we supported the Tooele Chamber of Commerce, food drives, and local causes. That’s part of who we are: we live here, work here, and serve here. ‍

You mentioned rail access earlier. Was that a factor in choosing this site?

Sliker: Rail access wasn’t a requirement for us at the start, but once we realized that it was an option for this new plant, it became a differentiator. Having direct rail service into the facility reduces logistics costs and improves efficiency. It definitely influenced our final decision.

What message would you like to share with Utah’s business community and potential workforce?

Sliker: This is the first time in our 36-year history that we’ve opened two plants in the same calendar year, which speaks to the strength of our team and the confidence our employee-owners have in this company. Tooele will be our 13th and westernmost plant, giving us a gateway to serve U.S. customers all the way to the Pacific.

For anyone considering joining our team, we’re an employee-owned company where you can be an owner from day one. If you value serving customers, taking ownership, and working in a culture defined by accountability and care for one another, this is a place you can thrive.

Tooele is our kind of town. The people here, the civic responsibility, and the cooperative spirit align perfectly with who we strive to be as a company. We’re proud to call Utah home.

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