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.

The group engaged Angella Moon, a Maryland Department of Labor representative who was directly involved with community members and former Hunter Douglas employees, to provide real-world workforce examples. This narrative brought a personal touch to the discussions, which resonated with Kingspan.

Andrew Sargent, Senior Business Development Representative for Western Maryland at the Maryland Department of Commerce, continues, “To help tell Cumberland’s workforce story, we turned to those who knew it best. [Angella] knew former employee’s skill sets, what machines they worked on, et cetera, and was able to shine a light on the available workforce.” 

Price adds, “Adding context to Allegany’s workforce beyond the numbers gave Kingspan the confidence to meet their hiring goal of ninety-five full-time employees in the first five years. We also brought Allegany College of Maryland and their Western Maryland Works program into the conversation to demonstrate that Allegany County not only has existing skilled talent but also has the means to build a workforce pipeline for the future.”

“Allegany County has manufacturing roots and is proud of that history,” emphasizes Matthew Doyle, Senior Business Development Representative at Commerce. “There was excitement around the possibility of bringing in a company that can revive unused spaces to create useful products and even introduce more sophisticated product manufacturing.” 

As discussions progressed, Commerce and ACECD devised a creative solution to reactivate a nearby inactive rail spur, proposing a county-led rail expansion project. This significantly reduced potential barriers for Kingspan and helped make Allegany County a compelling choice.

“Rail wasn’t originally part of Kingspan’s business plan, but during that meeting, we discussed how nearby rail access could efficiently move large quantities of raw materials, reduce truck traffic, and cut costs,” adds Doyle.

 As the teams continued their discussions over the following months, Commerce and ACECD developed a creative way to activate CSX rail at the site and reduce potential barriers to purchase for Kingspan. Recognizing the financial risks associated with rail expansion projects for new companies, the team at Commerce suggested the county lead the rail initiative, supported by state funding, as they owned the surrounding land and were familiar with conducting projects of this magnitude.

“Allegany County is very capable and experienced in this sort of project, so it really made sense for us to coordinate with CSX, rail contractors, and engineers to get the best price and manage the activation of this site,” said Barclay.

“By taking the project coordination off of Kingspan, the site became an instantaneous ‘yes’ for them,” adds Jayson Knott, Senior Director of Business Development at the Maryland Department of Commerce. “That was a turning point in the whole conversation of whether or not this property was a top contender for them. We reached that point because each partner was creative, open to possibilities, and transparent throughout the process.”

The partners collaborated to fund the county’s rail extension, with $1 million from the Maryland Department of Commerce, contributions from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and up to $265,000 from ACECD. The group is also exploring the Senator George C. Edwards Fund via the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland as a possible funding outlet.

The comprehensive partnership approach culminated in a final meeting in April 2024 at Rocky Gap, where all stakeholders confirmed the details, solidifying Kingspan’s investment in the site.

The site's redevelopment is expected to conclude in December 2024, with the rail site operational by March 2026.

“I think Kingspan saw that this space is not only a great fit but a great story for the company,” concluded Barclay. “We’re thrilled to welcome Kingspan into Allegany County, Maryland.”

Read other business stories from Allegany County here.