Anchor Drilling Fluids, a company that provides services in the oil and gas industry, held its grand opening Friday in Columbiana County.

Company officials, area leaders and workers gathered to celebrate at the Wellsville location since starting construction in February. Industry workers said it will bring a good number of jobs and help fuel business in the area.

"It's been really good for me. This would have been a really tough year if it weren't for Anchor coming to town," said Jeff Sabatino, a self-employed rig welder who works with Anchor Drilling Fluids. "They're good people to work for, and I just think it's a win-win for everybody."

The company makes liquid mud that cools the drilling bit as it goes down at a rig site. County Port Authority officials said the company had three states to choose from, but Ohio is in a prime location.

"You can be here at the Wellsville Intermodal Facility, and you can make a determination on how you want to move your goods -- by barge, rail or truck," said Tracy Drake, the executive director of the Columbiana County Port Authority.

Though the company is headquartered in Oklahoma, officials said its new location is the reach they were hoping for.

"This is what we've been talking about for the last several years, is that companies are coming to Ohio," said Jason Wilson, with the Governor's Office of Appalachia. "They're investing in Ohio. They are hiring people right here, Ohioans in Ohio."

Local workers said they are just happy for the chance to have a job.

"It doesn't matter who's coming to the county. The more people that are looking for workers, the better it is for everybody because it's going to give more people an opportunity to work somewhere," said Sabatino.

The company has more than 20 other locations around the nation. Officials said they've already hired workers and expect to employ about 40 people at the site.