Fiberglass aftermarket auto parts maker A.R.E. Accessories LLC in Massillon, Ohio, has received an eight-year, 1.311 percent Job Creation Tax Credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to support its growth.
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Fiberglass auto accessories maker A.R.E. expanding in Ohio
A.R.E. Accessories is a brand of parent company RealTruck, which manufactures fiberglass truck caps, hard tonneau covers and accessories for a network of authorized dealers across the U.S. and Canada. It expects to create 111 full-time positions, generating more than $5.6 million in new annual payroll, as a result of the company’s expansion project in Massillon and Navarre. The project will retain about $52.5 million in payroll, according to the tax credit authority.
The state said the A.R.E. Accessories/RealTruck project includes "will allow for increased production of the company’s current product portfolio as well as the introduction of a new product line to meet rising market demand."
As part of the tax credit agreement, the state requires the company to maintain operations at the project locations for at least 11 years. Ohio has been in competition with Illinois, Missouri and Texas for the project, according to the state.
Team NEO, the regional economic development organization, said the A.R.E. Accessories/RealTruck project includes the establishment of a Massillon campus within a mile of the company's existing operations. The addition of the 111 jobs will bring the facilities to nearly 900 employees. Team NEO said the company's campus, a combined 500,000-plus square feet, will accommodate custom fiberglass mold operations and aluminum truck caps manufacturing, as well as transportation and shipping streamlining operations and efficiencies in Stark County.
“The expansion of our operations to the Massillon campus afford RealTruck the opportunity to not only deliver excellence in manufacturing but expand output to meet the growing demand for our industry-leading products,” said Greg Kerr, vice president of plant operations at RealTruck, in a statement.
He added, “With this move, we are retaining current employees and aggressively hiring new employees at our Massillon campus.”
Massillon Mayor Jamie Slutz said RealTruck "has been a big part of our city’s economic success for almost 30 years. We are thankful that they chose to expand in Massillon and we will continue to work with them anyway we can.”
Bill Koehler, CEO of Team NEO, added, “Given Ohio’s strong presence in the automotive industry, and Northeast Ohio’s robust automotive talent and education offerings, it is an ideal location for RealTruck to grow their business."
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