How American Manufacturing Uplifts Communities and Builds Futures

Manufacturing is an essential part of civic identity in communities across the United States. American factories bring jobs and economic benefits, sure, but the impact also goes far deeper—contributing to a shared sense of purpose, accomplishment, and possibility.

Picture Wheatland Tube in Wheatland, Pennsylvania—a small town with 506 residents. The domestic steel pipe and tube manufacturer has roots in the region stretching back to 1877, and it opened its first factory nearly a century ago in 1931.

For residents, Wheatland Tube’s success and reputation have helped reinforce the notion that the community of Wheatland—and the surrounding Shenango Valley—were places where important work took place and families could flourish.

Standing Strong for Community

In the early 1970s, a young boy named Tim Feeney pinned a red flag, emblazoned with the Wheatland Tube name, to his bedroom wall. It was the sort of flag designed to attach to Wheatland’s steel tubing when it traveled across the country on flatbed trucks.

“I’ve always taken great pride in the name Wheatland Tube,” says Feeney, whose father and grandfather both worked as Wheatland Tube executives. “As a kid, I always admired the work and loved the end product, and I also loved how the company was known and revered in the community, both as a great place to work and also as a provider for the community and its families.”

The American manufacturing landscape has changed greatly since then, yet the bond between companies and communities endures, especially in Wheatland.

Wheatland Tube—now proudly part of the Zekelman family of companies, along with legacy Shenango Valley tube manufacturer, Sharon Tube—continues to shape the lives of those in the local community. From donating funds to upgrade the local fitness center, the Buhl Club, to supporting grassroots, teammate-led initiatives in the Shenango Valley, the company’s efforts drive tangible impact for residents.

Across its U.S. operations, Zekelman proves that businesses can truly be neighbors. In Alabama, Zekelman’s Grill of Steel food truck recently served meals to volunteers who teamed up to build beds for children in need. And back in Pennsylvania, Zekelman’s annual Christmas toy drive helps deliver holiday gifts to children in need. Beyond donations, Zekelman also encourages teammates to volunteer within community groups.

Perhaps the strongest testament to the companies’ community ties is the multi-generational teammates who still work there. Today, Tim Feeney serves as General Manager of Operations at Sharon Tube; and his brother Ned is General Manager of Operations at Wheatland Tube.

“We always joke that even though the first names sometimes change, the last names never do,” says Ned Feeney.

Building a Brighter Tomorrow

Of course, a manufacturer’s real legacy is in the jobs it sustains. At Zekelman, continuously investing in American manufacturing is key to delivering on that promise and building strength in local economies.

In April 2024, Zekelman announced a $120 million expansion of its factory campus in Blytheville, Arkansas. The campus supports operations for Wheatland Tube and Zekelman’s Atlas Tube, and will grow the number of local Zekelman jobs to more than 300. The company is also focused on creating opportunities for future generations, providing $250,000 to Arkansas Northeastern College to support students pursuing degrees related to the steel and aviation maintenance sectors.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders hailed Zekelman’s investment in jobs and job training as a boon to the Blytheville community and surrounding areas.

“I’m grateful that Zekelman Industries is not only expanding its footprint in this region, but also investing in career and technical education,” said Gov. Sanders. “This type of public-private partnership is exactly what we need to train the next generation of steelworkers.”

Zekelman’s investment in Blytheville is just one chapter in a larger story of community and industry growth. In 2023, the company completed its most advanced manufacturing facility to date—a new Wheatland Tube factory in Rochelle, Illinois. Over the last five years, Zekelman has invested $1.1 billion in modernizing and expanding its North American factories, plus an additional $1.2 billion to grow its modular construction business, driving innovation in housing and construction projects.

Ties That Bind

In small and mid-sized communities, domestic manufacturing companies form a strong, multi-generational bond with residents and governments. They grow together: Companies rely on the local workforce’s dedication and skill, while residents trust the company to provide stable, long-term jobs that sustain families and the community.

When a major domestic manufacturer struggles, the community often feels the impact. Ned Feeney recalls the contraction in American manufacturing in the late 1970s. As he sat at a friend’s dining room table, his friend’s family lamented the prospect of layoffs at a nearby steel mill. It was a challenging era at Wheatland Tube and Sharon Tube: Operations were scaled back and investment was limited.

Today, Feeney says he’s grateful for Zekelman’s continued operational investments—because he knows what it means to the communities surrounding Wheatland Tube and Sharon Tube. These companies aim to be reliable job providers to their 700 area teammates for many years to come.

And it’s not just Zekelman teammates who feel grateful: The company recently received a Phoenix Award from the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, recognizing Zekelman as a vital “growth manufacturer” in the area.

It points toward a bright future—one where company, community, and family work together across generations. In fact, third-generation teammates Ned and Tim Feeney aren’t the only Feeneys working at Zekelman these days. Ned’s daughter Morgan, Manager of Wheatland Tube’s Automated Inventory Management program, completed her seventh year with the company in October 2024.