Aug. 25--CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although the West Virginia economy is feeling the effects of the national recession, there are some bright spots. Consider:

--Toyota said on Aug. 12 that it plans to hire an unspecified number of temporary workers at its Putnam County plant to meet an anticipated increase in demand. The plant produces engines for the Corolla, which was the top-selling new model under the federal government's just-ended "cash for clunkers" program.

--KS of West Virginia, an auto parts maker in Silverton, Jackson County, recently called back 16 laid-off workers and now has 61 people working two shifts.

Tim Bailey, KS of West Virginia's executive vice president, said, "We see increasing orders that could be attributed to the idled original equipment manufacturers' plants coming back on line, the cash-for-clunkers program, and pent-up demand. We are cautiously optimistic and hope this increasing trend is sustainable."

--Simonton Windows announced on Aug. 3 that it is recalling 263 West Virginia workers who have been laid off since late 2008 and said it will hire 25 more people.

"Business has picked up this summer, allowing us to return former employees back to work and offer new jobs to more people," Simonton President Mark Savan said. "Part of the business increase relates to the seasonal demand during the second and third quarters of the year."

Savan said the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides a tax credit for purchasers of energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, has helped stimulate business.

--Some businesses continue to make long-term investments. Kureha Corp. is constructing a $100 million specialty plastics plant in Belle; Rubberlite Inc. is planning a $10 million expansion and upgrade of its facilities and equipment in Huntington.

--Ormet Corp., which operates an aluminum smelter 25 miles south of Moundsville on the Ohio side of the Ohio River, said on Aug. 17 that it anticipates laying off no more than 100 workers through the remainder of 2009. Ormet had issued a job layoff warning to 982 employees in July. The company said that since then it has secured additional metal sales contracts.

And there are businesses that have been quietly holding their own. One example is Armstrong World Industries Inc.'s hardwood flooring plant in Beverly. The plant, formerly known as Bruce Hardwood Floors, makes products that are dependent on the housing market.

Beth Riley, Armstrong's vice president of corporate communication, said the plant has employed 700 people since the third quarter of 2008.