“Our staff is very modest, but our dream is to grow this company,” said Osamu Ishimura, senior vice president and general manager of Sumitomo’s U.S. division at the opening ceremony of the new Vicksmetal operation at the E.W. Haining Industrial Center.

That’s fine. In today’s economy, each job — new or preserved — is important.

Vicksmetal will employ about 25 people to produce transformer cores for manufacturers of electrical transformers and voltage regulators. The work, expected to expand to three shifts, will be performed on $4 million worth of new equipment installed at the Port of Vicksburg site.

After reporting closing after closing, it was a pleasure to report a ribbon-cutting, especially for a company that sees the long term — Sumitomo dates to the 16th Century — past and future.

We congratulate Mike Inoue, president, members of the Warren County Port Commission and their director, Wayne Mansfield, and all who played roles in getting this new employer going. The same for Five Stars Lighting Ltd., a parts assembler, that opened at the port in July.

The economy will recover more fully and with more speed. As it does, Vicksburg and Warren County must be in position to recruit and welcome employers, especially quality firms such as Vicksmetal Company and Five Stars.