Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Pennsylvania-based maker of wood door and cabinet components, said Wednesday that it will build a new manufacturing plant in Tooele, which will create about 180 new jobs over the next three years.
The company, which makes components for kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturers, has seven facilities in the United States. The Tooele factory will be its first in the Western U.S.
"Utah was chosen after careful deliberation over several states and was ultimately chosen due to its proximity to the market as a whole and the strong work ethic of the labor force," Anthony Hahn, Conestoga's president and chief executive officer, said in a prepared statement.
Steve Holcomb, director of sales and marketing for Conestoga, told the Deseret Morning News that the final group of states Conestoga considered included Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. In the end, however, Holcomb reiterated Conestoga's excitement about Utah's quality work force.
With the help of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah and Tooele officials, Holcomb said Conestoga spoke with other area employers about what it was like doing business here.
"Literally, to a company, everyone we spoke to out there was very, very high on the work force," Holcomb said. "And, I've got to say, that was pretty exciting. We had every opportunity to ask questions and (found that) the work force literally exceeded the expectations of everyone who'd come into the market. Which is exciting to hear, because in this day and age, that's a challenge."
Shawn Stinson, EDCU spokesman, said Conestoga received $42,000 from the state to help with employee training.
"It's exciting to see all of this come to fruition," Stinson said. "I think that when you can generate job growth at very competitive salary ranges, it's great for that area. I think that Tooele is excited and will welcome Conestoga with open arms."
Stinson also drew a line from Conestoga to KraftMaid Cabinetry Inc., which in 2005 agreed to build a $100 million manufacturing plant in West Jordan. That plant, which held its groundbreaking in October, is expected to employ about 600 people initially and 1,300 when at full capacity. Conestoga is a supplier to KraftMaid and one of what Stinson said could be several companies to come to Utah because KraftMaid is here.
"KraftMaid was a huge announcement by itself, but what I don't think a lot of people were aware of was that not only were they coming with their commitment to create jobs and growth, but they're also providing additional opportunities" by drawing suppliers to Utah.
"Obviously, (Conestoga) has a great deal of other business interests here as well," Stinson said. "But with the size and scope of KraftMaid — Conestoga provides KraftMaid with the finished doors of the cabinetry."
Over the next three years, Conestoga anticipates that its operation will create 180 new jobs as part of its multi-shift manufacturing operation. About 50 jobs will be created the first month, Holcomb said, increasing to 100 after about six months.
The company already has purchased a 20-acre parcel of land at the Utah Industrial Depot in Tooele, where it will build a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. The facility is expected to be complete in December, Holcomb said. Additionally, Conestoga expects to lease extra warehouse space at the industrial park.
E-mail: jnii@desnews.com