Businesses Request $700K in Pittsfield Economic Development Funds
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A total of $700,000 in Pittsfield Economic Development Fund monies has been requested to bring a new business to the city and expand a longtime one.
On Tuesday, the City Council referred $200,000 and $500,000 requests for Pittsfield Economic Funds, the GE funds, to the Community and Economic Development subcommittee.
A half-million dollars would help Jain Americas Inc. expand Chicopee operations to Pittsfield, and $200,000 would support a design and manufacturing studio for Elegant Stitches.
Jain Americas is purchasing a more than 150,000-square-foot facility at 10 Conte Drive to expand its building product offerings. The company manufactures NuCedar and Ex-Cel siding brands, and Jain's NuCedar product line doubled in sales from $11 million in 2021 to $22 million in 2024.
The 53,000-square-foot facility in Chicopee employs nearly 70 people, and the funding contract would require the company to create 15 full-time jobs in Pittsfield by the end of 2027.
Between the building purchase, facility improvements, and equipment, the Pittsfield facility is expected to cost around $8 million.
Marchetti reported that the city's Red Carpet Team expressed "strong support" for Jain Americas' expansion because of the company's track record, values, and vision for future growth.
"The [Conte Drive] property offers 153,429 square feet of industrial space, nearly triple the size of the current Chicopee facility, and includes four loading docks, outdoor storage, and room for future expansion," he wrote.
"The Pittsfield site will allow Jain to scale its NuCedar line, add a new paint line, and further expand its product offerings. Over the next three years, Jain plans to invest $3.14 million in renovations and equipment, including adding four additional loading docks."
Jain Americas, formerly known as Ex-Cel Manufacturing, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., which was founded in 1963. It began operations in Columbus, Ohio, in 1992, and expanded into the building materials sector in 2004.
"Over the past 4 years we have doubled our revenue to $25 million and employ 68 employees, which include 55 full-time employees. By 2030 we plan to increase our revenue to $50 million and to support
that we have over $2 million in FY 2024 & FY 2025 and plan to invest another 500K in FY 2026 to expand our production capacity at our Chicopee facility," President and CEO Narinder Gupta wrote in a letter of intent.
"Space at the Chicopee facility for storage and new equipment to expand our existing product lines and adding new lines is a huge challenge. We, therefore, are exploring opportunities in adjoining areas to expand our manufacturing base."
The council also referred the request for $200,000 to assist Elegant Stitches Inc. in expanding operations.
The nearly 30-year-old custom embroidery and screen printing business is seeking economic funds to assist a new $950,000 design and manufacturing studio in Downing Industrial Parkway. The expansion will increase capacity and services, and add six new full-time employees.
"Due to the increased demands for their services, the property at First Street no longer is able to accommodate the needs of the business. Elegant Stitches is looking to expand the business into a
full design and manufacturing space with the acquisition of 17 Downing III in Pittsfield," Marchetti wrote.
"The building will provide 11,542 square feet of flat and open production space, allowing Elegant Stitches to increase its decoration capacity, embroidery and screen printing capacity."
The family-owned custom embroidery and screen printing company was founded in 1997 by Ghanaian immigrants and opened its first storefront in 1999. The Enchill family secured a permanent spot at 237 First St. in 2010 — a fire had destroyed the former shop in 2004 and forced them to lease.
"The project will employ 6 additional full-time employees for Elegant Stitches. These roles include in-house customer service, outside sales, production assistants, a marketing director, and a director of operations," owner Alfred Enchill wrote in a letter of intent.
"Elegant Stitches is confident that the execution of this expansion project will generate more business and contribute to the overall social and economic well-being of the City of Pittsfield."
Base salaries will range from $28,000-plus commission to $60,000, and under the funding contract, Elegant Stitches would have until the end of 2027 to hire six employees.
The mayor reported that Elegant Stitches serves a wide range of clients, from schools and financial institutions to community events, "with a focus on enhancing a sense of belonging and professional appearance through personalized apparel and merchandise."
He added that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Elegant Stitches pivoted to personal protective equipment supply and filled orders for several local businesses, demonstrating "their adaptability and commitment to supporting communities nationwide during a critical time."
Tags: economic development, GE fund,
