New business to bring 50 jobs to area

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October 14, 2009

MICHELLE BESAW The Press Republican Wed Oct 14, 2009, 02:57 PM EDT

By MICHELLE BESAW

Staff Writer

CHAMPLAIN — A new business is moving into the Village of Champlain, with plans to create up to 50 jobs by the end of January.

Testori Interiors Inc., a Canada-based manufacturing company, produces interiors for the mass-transit train and aircraft industries.

The company, headquartered in Prince Edward Island, will move here from its only U.S. location, in Hornell, N.Y.

It will utilize the former Main Knit building, a 100,000-square-foot facility on Lawrence Paquette Industrial Drive.

JOBS, PAY

The company will employ about 50 people and has already started to hire through Westaff, said Marco LePenga of Testori Interiors.

He said interested applicants can send resumes to payroll@testoriamericas.com.

LaPenga said they plan to open in mid-December and aim to be fully staffed by the end of January.

About six employees from the Hornell location will relocate to the North Country.

Job qualifications include basic experience in industrial and manufacturing, as well as blue-print reading and ability to use power tools.

Floor jobs will pay between $12 and $14 per hour, depending on experience. Office positions will pay between $15 and $20 hourly.

‘REAL WIN’

LaPenga said the Champlain real estate was “very attractive.

“I really have to thank (CDC Real Estate) a lot. They really helped to bring us here. They showed us around the area and showed us all the potential here.”

Matt Boire of CDC Real Estate said he and his partner, Mark Barie, marketed the facility and, “after several months and several interested parties, were able to coordinate the sale” to the long-time clients.

“It is a real win for the North Country, most especially Champlain,” Boire said. “Once again, these are good-paying manufacturing and assembly jobs.”

“These are the types of jobs that the North Country needs,” Barie said at a Village of Champlain Zoning Board meeting.

BOMBARDIER LINK

LaPenga said location was a important factor in considering the move.

“Bombardier is the main reason we are moving to Champlain, and they are presently our biggest costumer.”

Testori also deals with companies like Hyundai and Kawasaki.

“We certainly are very pleased that Testori will be locating and operation here in our area, creating jobs in the North Country,” said Sue Matton, the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce vice president for economic development.

“We have enjoyed working with them over these last several months and look forward to helping them become successful.”

Adore Flynn Kurtz, president of The Development Corp., shares Matton’s view.

“The Development Corporation has had the pleasure of working with Tesotri and the LaPengas and welcomes them to Champlain Industrial Park. We are hopeful that they will find Clinton County the good place to do business we know it to be.”

FAMILY BUSINESS

LaPenga’s father started Testori Interiors Inc. in 2003.

LaPenga originally worked for Testori Americas in Italy and became the major shareholder in 1998. Testori Interiors is a subsidiary of Testori Americas.

The manufacturing company is the second Canada-based business to move into the Village of Champlain in the past couple months. Elegance Coating, a vehicle-painting company, recently signed a five-year lease for an empty warehouse at 33 West Service Road and will employ up to 40 people.

E-mail Michelle Besaw at:

mbesaw@pressrepublican.com