MIDDLETOWN – A new packaging manufacturer officially opened its doors in the City of Middletown on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its 28,000 square foot facility on Industrial Drive.
Poly Craft Industries, which consolidated two separate locations on Long Island as part of its move to its new home and corporate headquarters in Orange County, specializes in the printing and packaging of laminated and nonlaminated bags, pouches and boxes that shoppers see in supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.
Connor Eckert, president and CEO of Orange County Partnership, said the ceremony was a celebration of investment, jobs and innovation for the community.
“Economic development is truly a team sport. And projects like this just don’t happen. They happen because of local leaders,” Eckert said. “Government, business, trade associations and workforce agencies come together around a single idea to attract investment. It’s teamwork all the way through.
Eckert added that attracting manufacturing is not an easy task and that communities across the country are competing for businesses like Poly Craft. There is no shortage of suitors, with states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania all making strong pitches. But, in the case of Poly Craft, Orange County and specifically Middletown, won out.
Mayor Joseph DeStefano attended the ceremony and said Poly Craft’s addition to Middletown is a boost in a number of ways, particularly when it comes to jobs.
“It means people’s ability to make a livelihood. It’s not all about residential development. People need a place to work,” DeStefano said. “This is about 120 jobs, 171 construction jobs where they’re already planning an expansion. This gives people the ability to live with their families. There is very little environmental impact. Not too many communities can claim they’re putting these kinds of projects on the board.”
DeStefano said Middletown is currently gauging interest from other companies for other areas of the city, including the former Playtogs building on Dolson Avenue. Ezra Lebowitz, founder and CEO of Poly Craft Industries, said the ribbon cutting was a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication from his family, friends, co-workers, as well as his new partners at the Orange County and state levels. He said the grand opening is an example of making the impossible – possible.
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