Quaker Window Products Co. will spend up to $65 million to expand operations at a location in Eldon, Mo., where it expects to create 300 jobs as various phases of a 100-acre site are developed over six to 10 years.
The window and door manufacturer is buying the land to initially house a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that could be in operation as soon as the fall of 2019.
Quaker currently employs 900 at two locations in Freeburg, Mo., for corporate offices and production of wood, vinyl and aluminum doors and windows. The business serves the residential and commercial construction markets.
The Eldon campus is about 60 miles from Freeburg.
"We are excited to not only be bringing new jobs to the region, but long-term career opportunities to the people of Eldon and surrounding communities as we grow together," Quaker CEO Kevin Blansett said in a news release.
The local public school district and Eldon Career Center will partner with Quaker to offer apprenticeships for high school juniors and seniors with the goal of placing them into full-time jobs with the company.
"Our vision is to create a community that our kids want to come back home to," Matt Davis, superintendent of Eldon Schools said in the release. "We know if we provide them with the right skill set, they will be able to get a starting job at Quaker that pays more than the current median household income in Eldon. This opportunity will improve the quality of life for our kids and families."
Michael Moehn, president of Ameren Missiouri, a utility that serves that state and Illinois, said a new law that went into effect in late August also is attractive to businesses.
"That's because Ameren Missouri is now able to offer one of the most favorable economic development rate incentive programs in the country to keep energy costs low for new and expanding businesses," Moehn said in the release.