Business leaders, elected officials, educators, and economic development representatives from across the Buffalo Trace region gathered for a regional open house celebrating the continued growth and expansion of Economy Ball Mill at Tollesboro.
The May 1 event brought together representatives from Lewis, Mason, and Fleming counties and focused not only on the company’s success but also on the broader message that northeastern Kentucky is capable of competing in international markets and supporting advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation.
Economy Ball Mill manufactures industrial grinding equipment known as ball mills: large rotating cylinders filled with steel balls used to crush, grind, and process materials for industrial applications. The equipment is used in industries ranging from mining and mineral processing to recycling, construction materials, rare-earth mineral recovery, and advanced manufacturing.
Company owner Shane Wallingford said the operation’s impact extends far beyond Lewis County.
“This is a regional event,” Wallingford told those attending. “Eastern Kentucky and Lewis County, in particular, are open for business. We can do, and we have successfully done international commerce right here in tiny Tollesboro.”
Wallingford said the company has sold equipment internationally and is currently processing materials from around the world.
“I’ve sold equipment to Australia, Belgium, Romania, Mexico, and Canada,” he said. “We’ve got product down there right now that we’re running from Northern Ireland.”
The event was hosted jointly by the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, Fleming County Chamber of Commerce, and Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Crystal Ruark, executive director of the Fleming County Chamber of Commerce, said the decision was made early on to make the open house a regional event rather than limiting it to one county.
“That’s how he wants to promote his business as part of the region,” Ruark said.
Lewis County Chamber representative Joni Pugh also emphasized the cooperative effort between the three chambers and praised Wallingford and his employees for building a successful industry in Lewis County.
Wallingford shared the company’s history, explaining that Economy Ball Mill traces its roots back to the 1950s, when it began as Economy Manufacturing. The company later merged with another business, Crossley, to form Crossley Economy during the 1970s through the early 1990s, and originally produced multiple industrial product lines, including mixers, blenders, valves, and ball mills.
He explained that economic downturns in the Rust Belt during the late 1980s and early 1990s forced the company to evolve.
“When the Rust Belt took the big dump in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the company transformed its resources into becoming more of a fabrication facility and less of a product manufacturing facility,” Wallingford said.
The company later became Economy Ball Mill Company after selling off other product lines.
Wallingford said his own journey into ownership began while attending Morehead State University and working full-time.
In 2011, faculty members, including Dr. Ahmad Zargari, encouraged him to pursue entrepreneurship.
“When I’m 34 years old at this time with a wife, three kids and a mortgage and two car payments, that’s a leap,” Wallingford said. “That’s a leap from the comfort zone.”
He credited family members, educators, employees and local supporters for helping make the business possible.
“The reason there’s not just Lewis County Chamber of Commerce involved in this and the reason there’s Fleming, Mason, and Lewis is this is a regional event,” Wallingford said. “This area is open for business.”
Lewis County Judge Executive George Sparks praised Wallingford’s determination and vision.
“If you know Shane, you know he’s full of energy and I admire his determination and his perseverance,” Sparks said.
Sparks said Wallingford’s work represents the type of innovation and entrepreneurship needed for the region’s future.
“I think what he’s doing here is amazing,” Sparks said. “He not only sells them not just in Kentucky or the United States but far beyond, and I believe that’s pretty unique.”
Sparks also highlighted investments being made throughout Lewis County, including emergency services, broadband expansion, workforce development and recreation projects.
“Our businesses are the backbone of our community,” Sparks said. “They employ our people and they put food on our family’s tables.”
Congressman Andy Barr connected the company’s work to national economic and security concerns, particularly involving rare earth minerals and advanced manufacturing.
Barr said the United States faces growing competition from China in critical mineral processing and advanced technologies.
“What this is all about is national security and this company is contributing to American competitiveness,” Barr said.
Barr praised Wallingford’s persistence and entrepreneurial spirit.
“The only way to build a successful enterprise like what we have here in Tollesboro now is through the grit and never-give-up attitude of an entrepreneur,” Barr said.
Wallingford later explained how ball mill technology is used to recycle and recover rare earth materials from products such as magnets and electronic circuit boards.
“The ball mill you see sitting right back there (gesturing toward the back of the facility) is going to be actually used to get the rare earth minerals out of incinerated circuit boards from computers,” Wallingford said.
He also discussed the company’s involvement in processing fly ash materials reclaimed from former coal ash ponds.
“The equipment that we make makes a difference,” Wallingford said. “What we manufacture in this area is contributing to the planet, not just here.”
Dr. Ahmad Zargari, dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Morehead State University, spoke emotionally about Wallingford’s journey from working night shift while attending school to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
“He did not stop,” Zargari said. “He was perseverant. He had the stamina. He had the belief.”
Zargari said Wallingford always believed he could build something significant in the region.
“His dream was, ‘I will make it happen,’” Zargari said.
He described the success as important not only for Lewis County, but for Kentucky and the nation.
“Ten years ago, people wouldn’t imagine that even something can happen — a company here serving people here producing something that in California they are asking for and overseas they’re asking for,” Zargari said.
Kevin Cornette, executive director of the Buffalo Trace Area Development District, also emphasized the broader regional significance of the company’s success.
“This is not just a Lewis County impact,” Cornette said. “This does have a regional impact.”
Cornette recalled working with Wallingford during the early stages of the business, when securing financing and support was difficult.
“There’s a lot of times that projects like this come down to one thing — the people behind it and that persistence,” Cornette said.
Cornette praised Wallingford for investing in his own education and skill development long before the business became successful.
“Shane invested in himself early,” Cornette said. “He had a vision and he did it.”
Cornette said the success story provides an example for economic development efforts throughout the region.
“When we’re working in economic development and trying to recruit folks to come here to our region, you point the way back to here,” Cornette said. “Here’s a success story to tell.”
Attorney Scott McIntyre, a lifelong friend of Wallingford, also spoke about Wallingford’s perseverance, leadership and willingness to think beyond traditional expectations.
“We can compete in this community with anybody in the world,” McIntyre said.
Sen. Robin Webb praised Wallingford’s work ethic and role as an ambassador for the region.
“We couldn’t have a better guy as an ambassador for our county and our community and our region,” Webb said.
State Rep. Patrick Flannery called the project a celebration of entrepreneurship and risk-taking.
“What we are seeing here today is the fruit of someone taking risks,” Flannery said. “There were many sleepless nights and many times where they were asking, ‘Is this worth it?’ And they said yes.”
The open house concluded with facility tours and lunch prepared by Harrison Events.
Video from the full Economy Ball Mill open house:
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