Comings & Goings: Williamsport building products manufacturer starts $28 million expansion

CertainTeed breaks ground on $28 million expansion in Williamsport

A Williamsport building products manufacturer broke ground last week on a $28 million expansion project.

CertainTeed, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain North America, held a formal groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, according to a news release from the company.

The project, along with others made by CertainTeed at the site, will allow the company to improve production and shipping capacity and significantly increase warehouse space. That will increase the availability of the company's siding portfolio in the mid-Atlantic region, aligning with customer needs.

The expansion in Williamsport, which will also add training and office areas, will allow the company to improve the customer experience by creating one centralized distribution site for all products, according to the release.

“Hagerstown is the heartbeat of our siding products business," Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Siding Products Group Joe Bondi said in the release. "This $28 million investment to upgrade the plant, increase our production, improve the facilities for our employees, and expand our warehouse capacity, will allow us to better support and service our customers.”

In line with Saint-Gobain’s global pursuit of carbon neutrality by 2050, sustainability will be a key component of this expansion project through the installation of new, best in class energy-saving features, such as LED lighting and high efficiency dock doors to prevent heat loss. In addition, all HVAC appliances will be electric and no natural gas will be used in the project. Once complete, the centralized location for all product storage will allow for the elimination of product transport to offsite storage and will lead to a reduction in Scope 3 transportation emissions.

The Williamsport facility, which currently employs over 300 people, began operations in 1971 and is one of the largest vinyl siding plants in the United States. The plant is currently hiring for more than 50 roles and expects further hiring as the expansion is completed. A complete listing of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations, including the CertainTeed site in Williamsport, can be found on the company’s website.

Easterseals to cut ribbon on new facility

A reopening and ribbon-cutting is planned for the new location of Easterseals DC MD VA Adulst Day Service, according to a news release from the city of Hagerstown.

The event will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at 701 E. First St. in Hagerstown.

Easterseals practices a person-centered approach to care, by first understanding the specific needs of each individual and their family, then effectively managing those needs in a way that honors and respects the voice of the client, according to the news release.

The new center welcomes participants into a modern, bright, and cheerful atmosphere to further promote dignity, inclusion, community and wellness.

With ample parking and beautiful green space, the facility is licensed to serve up to 55 participants per day, 15 more than could be served at the previous location, enabling more Washington County residents in need to receive care.

For more information, go to eseal.org. 

More parts of former Fairchild property leased

The New Heights Industrial Park near Hagerstown Regional Airport will have two new tenants.

Tomu Inc. and Pycube collectively are leasing 60,000 square feet in the development at 18450 Showalter Road, according to a news release from Lee & Associates of Eastern Pennsylvania, which brokered the leases.

New Heights Industrial Park, formerly used by Fairchild Aircraft Manufacturing, is owned and managed by a joint venture partnership between Bluestone Group and The Langer Co., according to the release. Lee principals Joel Kreider and Ed Skonecki represented the landlord in both lease transactions. With this leasing activity, the 900,000-square-foot project is approximately 82% leased.

Tomu develops pre-fabricated modular building systems, specializing in designing and constructing hotel guest rooms and rental properties.

Pycube, headquartered in Sterling, Va., provides asset management and asset tracking for the health care industry.

Washington County hires new director of grant management

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners recently named Rachel Souders director of the Department of Grant Management, according to a news release from the county.

Souders first was hired by Washington County Government in May 2021 as a senior grant manager. During her tenure, she demonstrated outstanding commitment and expertise in grant management, contributing significantly to the county's success in securing essential funding for various initiatives, according to the release.

Souders has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, providing her with a strong foundation in understanding community needs and social dynamics, the release states. Prior to joining Washington County Government, she worked as a planner and auditor at Fairchild Controls. Most recently, she served in quality improvement with the Maryland Department of Health.

A Washington County native, Souders lives near Boonsboro with her husband, three children and the family dog.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Saint-Gobain subsidiary to expand; more of old Fairchild plant leased