Allegany County is set to become the home of Kingspan Roofing + Waterproofing’s first manufacturing facility on the East Coast. This venture underscores Allegany County’s capacity to support large-scale manufacturing initiatives and highlights the essential collaborations that facilitated Kingspan’s decision to invest in Western Maryland.
Kingspan Roofing + Waterproofing, a newly formed division of the Ireland-based Kingspan Group, specializes in energy-efficient roofing solutions. While the parent company is well-established worldwide, its new roofing division sought an East Coast location to launch its United States manufacturing operations.
The search led Kingspan to the 348,000-square-foot former Hunter Douglas facility in Allegany County, which had closed only eighteen months prior. The building's broker, Binswanger, facilitated initial discussions with Kingspan's site selection consultant and business broker, Deloitte, drawing in the Maryland Department of Commerce for additional support.
The Department of Commerce engaged Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) to provide key insights on the county and help facilitate communication between stakeholders.
ACECD Director Jeffrey Barclay shares, “Just a week after our first call about the project in February 2023, Deloitte requested a tour of the building at One Hunter Douglas Drive.” Barclay and ACECD’s Senior Project Manager Nathan Price hosted the visit, showcasing the site’s potential and discussing critical requirements like electricity, solar power, natural gas, and rail access.
“That information was crucial,” said Barclay. “It helped us identify potential challenges with the site and collaboratively workshop solutions to make Allegany County the best fit for Kingspan.”
Despite considering other locations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Allegany’s combination of available skilled labor and advantageous rail connections played a crucial role in Kingspan’s decision.