September 23, 2003
ROMNEY CELEBRATES CONSOLIDATION OF ROCKLAND PLANT
$6 Million Plant Consolidation Saves 85 Jobs; Adds 20 New Jobs
ROCKLAND – Governor Mitt Romney today touted the advantages that make Massachusetts attractive for job growth and business development while praising the TACC Division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) for its efforts to consolidate several of its operations and to locate them in the Bay State.
“You went through a tremendous evaluation process to decide where to consolidate the plant. You analyzed over 30 scenarios and considered many other states. In the end, you decided to stay here in Massachusetts and for that, I salute you,” Romney told company officials during a tour of the facility.
During the evaluation process, ITW considered variables including capital, operating and utility costs as well as the availability and cost of both skilled and unskilled labor. The company ultimately decided to consolidate their operations in Rockland, retaining 85 jobs at their South Shore location. Romney said ITW expects future job growth as a result of their consolidation and noted that 20 new jobs have already been added to date.
“Massachusetts proved to be the best decision considering all the variables,” said Romney. “We have the people, the capital and the technology market.”
ITW TACC is a division of ITW, a $10 billion manufacturing company that operates in 43 countries. Currently, six ITW companies, which collectively employ over 400 people, have facilities in Massachusetts. ITW TACC has been headquartered in Rockland on the South Shore for more than 30 years. They continue to be a leader in the production of adhesives for the commercial use and residential construction markets.
Today’s celebration also includes a significant investment in state-of-the-art safety and emissions control technology that reduces emissions by 75 percent, which allows them to significantly increase production in Rockland while reducing emissions.
“The people at ITW, ITW TACC, the town of Rockland and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have worked together diligently to make our future success possible,” said Jim James, General Manager of ITW TACC. “The support we’ve received reinforces our decision to centralize in Rockland and has poised ITW TACC for further growth.”
Romney said government can play an important role in economic development by preserving a stable and competitive tax base; holding down the cost of doing business in Massachusetts; reducing the supply of housing by increasing the supply; connecting our higher education system to regional workforce needs; reforming state government to improve the delivery of services; and working aggressively to bring more jobs to the state.
Last week, Romney announced a $125 million three-year proposal to jumpstart the economy. The “Jobs First” bill – which will be filed shortly – focuses on expanding key businesses, training workers, and developing more housing and commercial space. Key components include:
A targeted tax rebate to companies that create new jobs in biotechnology, life sciences and medical device manufacturing;
New local aid for communities that create more housing paid for by a sales tax rebate on building materials;
Career assistance for workers, such as non-degree tuition assistance loan program and grants to encourage training partnerships among community colleges, industry and career centers;
Expansion of Statewide Technology Transfer Center at UMass to increase likelihood that technology developed at the school will have commercial application and lead to job creation;
Doubling the Economic Opportunity Tax Credit from 5 to 10 percent for business development of brownfields; and
Matching grants of up to $200,000 to revitalize urban centers, keeping jobs near housing and helping maintain the local tax base.
Romney said his proposal “addresses a number of systemic problems – such as housing and urban decline – that have undercut previous job creation efforts in Massachusetts,” and he credited the public, private and nonprofit leaders serving on the Regional Competitiveness Councils with many of the innovative features being proposed as part of the legislation.
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