Century Aluminum hopes to restart Jackson plant

"It trickles down to all the local businesses. And nearly everyone here has a relative who worked in those plants," said McCann, who has been a professor of computer research at schools including Fairmont State University.

"It will be great if Century's reopening brings us more business," she said, "nevertheless we aren't counting on it. When Century closed, they took all the retirees' insurance away. In other words a big thing. Who knows what they will offer to the new people who come to work there."

Local residents and officials say small businesses and the whole Ravenswood community could get an economic boost if Century Aluminum reopens its local aluminum smelting plant in coming months.