GWCEDC worked with manufacturers to land expansion projects over other locations
By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor The Greater Warren County Economic Development Council is touting the expansion and creation of more jobs at two local manufacturers as a harbinger of more things to come. SAF-Holland anticipates hiring potentially 75 more employees over the next three years, while earlier this year Cascades Plastics doubled the size of its plant and added 19 jobs. Several GWCEDC members, along with Truesdale Mayor Murray Bruer and Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer, toured both plants Tuesday. They were joined by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth). GWCEDC officials worked with both companies to land the expansion projects over other locations. “When the local management of SAF-Holland and Cascades Plastics reached out to the GWCEDC to help our community win these expansions over competing facilities, we quickly formed a team up to the challenge,” said Scott Hays, GWCEDC president. “Supporting our existing business community is and will remain a key charge of the GWCEDC and we thank Cascades Plastics and SAF-Holland for their investment in our region.” SAF-Holland, based in Michigan, is in the process of adding product lines at its Warrenton facility. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers for systems and components primarily for trailers, as well as trucks, buses and recreational vehicles. Company officials said a multi-year contract has been signed to provide a “significant volume” for a large U.S. trailer manufacturer. SAF-Holland expects to hire potentially 25 to 30 more employees in each of the next three years, officials said. Currently, nearly 400 employees work out of the Warrenton plant. The company employed 200 in 2008. Meanwhile, Cascades Plastics has already wrapped up its expansion project at its facility in the Warrenton Area Industrial Park. The 108,000-square-foot plant has more than doubled in size to allow it to store more product. The company, based in Canada, manufacturers polystyrene foam food containers for packaging and food presentation. With the addition of 19 new jobs, Cascades Plastics now employs around 100 workers. Following the plant tours, Luetkemeyer said it was exciting to see both companies plan for future growth. “The growth is indicative of aggressive leadership and good management and quality work product that is put out by the employees and the management team,” he remarked. “The sales team is being aggressive and capturing more market share and they are doing a good job of that. Warren County as a whole is lucky to have these types of companies that are forward thinking, aggressive and continue to grab market share. We also have an excellent work force in this area which allows these companies to be competitive.” The expansion projects at both Cascades Plastics and SAF Holland are another successful venture for the GWCEDC. It comes on the heels of attracting two new companies to the area. CertainTeed is currently in the process of building a manufacturing and distribution facility just east of Jonesburg. The company is planning to invest $100 million in the new facility, which will result in 100 jobs. The H.T. Hackney Company has opened a new satellite food distribution center at a vacant building in Truesdale. Formed in 2011, the nonprofit private and public sector partnership is designed to strengthen the economic base of the area by pursuing job-creating projects and growing existing businesses. Luetkemeyer offered praise for the new jobs that have been obtained by the GWCEDC. “This joint effort is fantastic,” he said. “The group is very effective. They have a very good game plan, I think. Their cooperative effort has already been exemplified by the way they have come together and done some good stuff already.”
Bjoern Meyer, second from the left, explains the type of work that is performed at the SAF-Holland facility in Warrenton during a tour on Tuesday, April 22. The tour was attended by local elected officials and GWCEDC.
