East Huntingdon firm gets $579,000 low-interest state loan to build plant
An East Huntingdon firm that manufactures wood shipping crates, pallets and non-wood crates for the military and industry was awarded a $579,072 low-interest loan from the state to buy a 6.7-acre industrial property to build a new manufacturing plant and consolidate operations in a $1.44 million project, the state said.
Quality Support LLC of Water Street, was awarded the 15-year low-interest loan at 1.5% by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), which the state said will help the company retain 40 jobs and create 10 more jobs within three years.
Quality Support will construct a 10,000-square-foot cut room steel building, while also renovating four buildings totaling 14,460 square feet that will be consolidated with the new steel building, PIDA said Wednesday. The construction will allow for future growth and allow Quality Support to improve workflow by having all of its employees, materials and equipment in one place, PIDA said.
Jack E. Davis II, owner and president of Quality Support by the Pennsylvania Department of State, said he hopes to begin construction on the building late this year or next spring.
The multi-phase project to combine operations under one roof will take a few years, Davis said.
Davis said his company’s customer base has become national in scope, growing from a regional supplier. He said the company was able to remain in production because it was considered an essential service because it is a contractor for the Defense Department.
Davis purchased the property from Ken-Co. Fabricating Co. Inc. of 1009 Water St., for $330,000 in September 2020, according to documents filed with the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds. Ken-Co did metal fabrication and machining for various industries.
The Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland, a Greensburg-based economic development agency, provided support for the application, the state said.
Kyle Martin, business development director for the Economic Growth Connection, could not be reached for comment.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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