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.”