ALTON, Ill., May 23, 2007 – Clark Properties Inc. announced an agreement with Imperial Manufacturing Group, a Canadian company based in Richibucto, New Brunswick, to bring its U.S. headquarters to Alton, Ill.
Michael Clark, president of Clark Properties, said Imperial will house its U.S. corporate offices, a manufacturing operation and its warehouse and distribution facilities in the Alton Center Business Park and plans to employ local residents in several areas of operation.
“Based upon our areas of distribution in the United States, Alton is an ideal location to place this facility,” said Normand Caissie, president of Imperial Manufacturing Group. “The size of our new headquarters will help us to boost production and increase our efficiency. We also are very pleased with the workforce experience we have had in the area, already employing a large percentage of our workforce from the River Bend community.” He added that the company plans to continue to grow and will be looking for additional staff both now and in the future.
Founded in 1979, Imperial Manufacturing Group specializes in equipment for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation and building products industries. The company provides more than 7,000 products for a diverse customer base, including several national do-it-yourself retailers and more than 100 specialized companies in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, heat care and indoor air quality products. With the addition of the Alton facility, Imperial hopes to double its production in the United States.
“It is wonderful to have a second major tenant in the Alton Center Business Park who is bringing new jobs to our area," said Donald E. Sandidge, mayor, city of Alton. “Based on what we know, the upside for their growth seems very promising. We feel we have a ready and able workforce in Alton that can fill these newly created jobs. We also heartily welcome Imperial Manufacturing as the newest member of the Alton business community."
The Alton facility currently houses American Water Service Co. in a portion of the 228,000-square-foot Alton Center I, and Imperial will occupy just over half of the 222,400-square-foot Alton Center II at the site. Imperial’s plan includes 5,000 square feet of office space, a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing area, and approximately 87,400 square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Contegra Construction Co. is the general contractor.
Bradley Spencer, Imperial’s vice president, U.S. sales and operations, says the move will allow for the company’s aggressive sales growth strategy in the United States. “We are the market leader in Canada, and we want to bring that growth to the U.S.”
He added that Imperial has outgrown its facility in Hamel, Ill., and is delighted that the company will be able to maintain its expanded operations under one roof at the Alton Center Business Park. “This is a wonderful opportunity to lay out our production, warehouse and distribution facilities to create maximum efficiencies.”
The city of Alton, Madison County and the state of Illinois all have provided support for Imperial’s decision to move to the larger Alton Center Business Park. “Imperial moving to Alton is a great boost to the River Bend region and to the business park itself,” said Monica Bristow, president of the Growth Association of Southwestern Illinois. “We are hoping to see continued success in the Alton Center Business Park.”
Alton Center Business Park is a 150-acre, mixed-use development located at the foot of the Lewis and Clark Bridge at the intersection of Illinois Route 143 and Broadway. It was a 2001 Phoenix Award winner for Community Impact at the National Brownfield Conference.
The project is being developed in two phases. Phase I included the renovation of the two existing buildings. With all new roofs, siding and building systems, they offer economical, like-new space. After considering more than 1,300 cities across the country, the business park’s first tenant, American Water Works, selected the site for its national customer service center because of the area's bountiful, high-quality labor, the city's can-do attitude and Clark Properties' ability to provide turn-key space in time to meet an aggressive schedule. The business park also won SWIDA’s Outstanding Development of the Year Award in 2000.
The buildings occupied by American Water Works and Imperial Manufacturing offer dual fiber optic feeds and ample parking, and their wide-open floors and 23 and 25-foot clear-height ceilings make them easily adaptable to meet the specific needs of the user.
According to Clark, the remainder of the property has been cleared and readied for Phase II, which will provide 75 acres of land for new development. “I want to especially thank Mayor Sandidge, Phil Roggio, Alton’s director of development and housing, Madison County and the state of Illinois for their support of this project,” added Clark. “This was truly a case of everyone aggressively working to retain area jobs and ensure that Imperial’s substantial job growth also comes to the River Bend community, rather than watching them all go somewhere else. The city of Alton has always had a strong vision for the Alton Center Business Park and, today, with more than 600 jobs and growing, that dream is being realized.”
Clark Properties is a full-service real estate development and property management company headquartered in St. Louis. Clark Properties has acquired, renovated and sold or leased more than 5 million square feet of office, warehouse/distribution and light manufacturing space. For more information on Clark Properties and/or the Alton Center Business Park, visit www.clark-properties.com.
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Editor’s Notes: Clark Properties is located at:
Union Seventy Center, 5391 Brown Ave., St. Louis, MO 63120
Imperial Manufacturing Group is located at:
1450 Discovery Parkway, Alton, IL 62202
www.imperialgroup.ca
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