Six months after announcing plans to bring more than 100 jobs to Kenosha County, the FNA Group Inc. announced it also will relocate its corporate headquarters from Illinois to Pleasant Prairie.
FNA, which manufacturers pressure washers for home and industrial markets, is moving from Elk Grove Village in suburban Chicago to its new $3 million facility at the LakeView Corporate Park.
“I would like to welcome FNA to Wisconsin, and I applaud the company for once again showing its commitment to growing in the state,” said Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who joined company and local officials at a ribbon-cutting today. “Just last week, a national survey of CEOs ranked Wisconsin as the 12th best state in the nation to do business – and we’ve seen a big jump in the rankings over the last four years. That’s a clear sign that company executives all over the country are becoming more aware that Wisconsin is a great place in which to start or grow a business.”
“All of us at FNA Group are impressed by the manner in which state and local officials worked independently and together from day one,” said Gus Alexander, president and CEO of FNA Group and OEM Solutions. “They did everything within their power to help us solve our challenges. And we are all extremely proud to call Pleasant Prairie our new home.”
In December, FNA announced it was locating part of its OEM Industries Division operations, which manufactures hoses and distributes pumps and replacement parts, from Arkansas to Pleasant Prairie. The company selected Wisconsin after taking part in a site selection process that involved numerous states.
The new facility, which opened earlier this year, is expected to create at least 165 new jobs.
In addition to housing the company’s corporate offices, the 176,000-square-foot facility will enable FNA to manufacture new products, accommodate demand for existing products, and establish an R&D/engineering/product development center.
To support the company’s move and the creation of new jobs, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has authorized FNA to receive up to $700,000 in state tax credits. The actual amount of credits awarded will be contingent upon the number of jobs created.
The Kenosha Area Business Alliance is providing the company with a $1 million loan funded through a combination of revolving loan funds, including one that originated with a contribution from Pleasant Prairie’s Tax Incremental Finance District #2.
“Near the end of 2014, the village welcomed The FNA Group to Pleasant Prairie as a new and growing business,” said Pleasant Prairie Village President John Steinbrink. “With the announcement that FNA will now move its corporate headquarters to Pleasant Prairie, the village is absolutely thrilled. We have a great deal of respect for the businesses that locate in our community and deeply appreciate this display of confidence our region.”
Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser added: “We’re excited about the investment the FNA Group has made in Pleasant Prairie and its decision to now relocate its headquarters here. We have been preparing for this announcement for years with the investments we’ve made in LakeView Corporate Park, our infrastructure and amenities as well as the steps we’ve taken to make Kenosha County attractive to business. We are happy to see the results of these actions and welcome the FNA Group to the community.”
The FNA Group is a vertically integrated manufacturer of brand name and private label electric and gas pressure washers, pumps, hoses and replacement parts. The company sells worldwide to homeowners, contractors and industrial customers through retailers and directly via the Internet. Its major house brands include SIMPSON® and DELCO®. The company also controls the brand names POWERWASHER®, TASKMASTER® and MONSTERHOSE®, and supplies products under other well-known brands such as DeWALT.
FNA’s brands are sold in major home-improvement retail chains across North America, including The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and Sam’s Club.
About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing Wisconsin’s business climate. WEDC nurtures business growth and job creation by providing resources, technical support and financial assistance to companies, partners and communities in Wisconsin. WEDC has four focus areas: business and industry development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and innovation and international business development. Together with more than 600 regional and local business development partners, it represents a highly responsive and coordinated network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.
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