"This plant here in Ludlow will service pretty much everything from Maine to Virginia. It's going to be a central hub," said Brian Regnier, Northeast sales director for the Saginaw, Michigan-based company, which makes commercial-grade roofing company and related products.
Duro-Last received its certificate of occupancy last month and will hold a "soft opening" April 3, according to Regnier, a Ludlow native who now lives in Agawam.
Ludlow officials say the proposed location for a Chapter 40B housing project is all wrong and are asking the nonprofit developer to consider another site.
"We expect to be in full operation mode by mid-June," he said.
Even though Duro-Last is a Michigan company, all of the players involved in the Ludlow branch are from Western Massachusetts, according to Regnier, who publicly introduced the company at a recent meeting of the Ludlow Board of Selectmen.
"We really want to try to hire as many Ludlow people as we can," Reginer said, adding that the entry-level positions come with "a very strong benefits package."
The Board of Selectmen voted to send a letter in support of a recreational marijuana moratorium to the Planning Board, which is responsible for zoning changes to conform with the state's new recreational pot law.
Duro-Last held a job fair last month and will likely hold another one this month in Ludlow, depending on the outcome of February's hiring fair.
"I think we're earmarking about 20 jobs right now," Regnier said, "and that will grow."
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, and submit to a drug screen and pre-employment physical.
Duro-Last Roofing is the world's largest manufacturer of prefabricated roofing systems. All new hires will work with a qualified trainer to learn Duro-Last's policies and procedures for safety and production operations.
Hampden County's former and current sheriffs, Mike Ashe and Nick Cocchi, respectively, were honored Tuesday night by the Ludlow Board of Selectmen, which presented the men with official citations thanking them for their dedication to Ludlow and the rest of the county.
In addition to Ludlow and Michigan, the company's other plants are in Iowa, Oregon, Mississippi, and Texas.
"We're a major manufacturer of commercial roofing, and Ludlow is our sixth manufacturing facility," Regnier said.
"We're glad you're taking a vacant building and making it flourish again, and that you guys love Ludlow as much as we do and you're offering jobs," Selectwoman Carmina D. Fernandes said.
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