A Belmont County construction company is reaping the benefits from the demands of oil and gas workers. The business builds structures and houses in Barnesville to be used solely by those workers.


T.J. Jefferis, a partner with Jeru Real Estate, said his company changed the way they operate to cater to the growing activity. A 4-acre area of their property used to be grass about a week ago, and it's been replaced with gravel and stone for the work site.

"We're in a different environment now than what we were in a few years ago. And you've got a lot more businesses coming in and supporting these wells," said Jefferis.

His company constructs buildings exclusively for shale and pipeline companies to lease out.

"We have two buildings, 10,000-square-foot buildings up now," said Jefferis. "One of them is leased, and one of them we're finishing up building."

With 30 years in the business, Jefferis said the company also builds homes around town for the hundreds of workers and jobs coming into the area.

"It's because of the need for those things and the property, being close to the interstate over there. It's one of the reasons why we're trying to do some other things here," said Jefferis.

He said they put local concrete layers, electricians and plumbers to work in this specialized area. Of several plans in the works, Jefferis said they plan to build a Days Inn and Suites in Morristown that will have 76 rooms.