Assemblyman Marc Butler welcomed Northern Architectural Systems and 50 jobs to Johnstown, N.Y. during a recent event on site at the recently opened facility.
Assemblyman Marc Butler welcomed Northern Architectural Systems and 50
jobs to Johnstown,
N.Y. during a recent event on site
at the recently opened facility.
Butler addressed workers, businesses and guests
about the crucial need to foster American manufacturing. His comments
immediately preceded the company's first shipment from the Fulton County facility.
Parent company, Northern Building Products,
one of New Jersey's fastest growing companies,
decided to expand operations of their wall systems subsidiary, because of the
promise of economic incentives coupled with the opportunity to provide products
to the growing number of buildings getting LEED certified in the New England and Mid-Atlantic Regions.
“We're excited,” said Robert J. Pecorella,
Northern's president. “The Empire Zone benefits will really help us to employ
even more skilled workers from the area as we grow. Working where you live is a
basic tenet of the green movement. Every time we ship out an order going to a
LEED project, we demonstrate our commitment and role in the green industry,
working with architects to maximize energy performance, regional and recycled
content materials and innovation credits as well as putting our most valuable
resource – our people – back to work in the
heartland.”
Butler stated, “We're excited too. This is a great example of the
policies we try to foster in the Committee on Economic Development, Job
Creation, Commerce and Industry at the New York State Legislature. Green
technology is a thriving market and we see many great things for this
company.”
Providing a different perspective, Northern
employee, Al Unger, 39, who programs the machines that mill the intricate shapes
for exterior walls of a building.
“If Northern hadn't come, I don't know what
I would have done,” Unger said. “I wasn't looking forward to uprooting my family
or losing two hours each day because of a
commute.”
Keeping people like Unger employed is just
one of the reasons that motivated Pecorella.
“I started manufacturing insulated windows
and doors 32 years ago, after experiencing the 1970's gasoline crisis,” he said.
“It became clear our energy supply was not unlimited. I had to do something to
help the situation for the future. Manufacturing has always been the backbone of
America's economy and when our
products installed, energy is saved and the carbon footprint is reduced. We make
products that improve the quality of life for the end users and, at the same
time, benefit the people who make them. It's great when the right thing to do is
also good business.”
Manufacturing Jobs and a Greener Future for Northern Architectural Systems