Canada’s Gracious Living opening N.Y. manufacturing plant

Canadian consumer products maker Gracious Living Corp. will open its first injection molding plant in the U.S. after buying property in Buffalo, N.Y.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the board of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) approved the sale of land on Buffalo’s outer harbour to the Woodbridge, Ont., firm, where it will build a plastic extrusion and injection molding facility.

The plant will create 250 jobs.

“Gracious Living will breathe new life into two abandoned waterfront structures and facilitate private sector investment and job growth in Western New York,” Cuomo said in announcing the deal.

The 49.5-acre property includes a pair of derelict buildings, which Gracious Living plans to refurbish for manufacturing and warehousing.

According to Cuomo, Gracious Living paid US$4.7 million for the site.

Gracious Living has been working on a deal to expand to the region since November 2012, and will receive $2 million in performance-based jobs program tax credits from the state in return for the company’s job creation commitments resulting from its investment.

“The U.S. market is an important part of our growth plans and having a U.S.-based facility demonstrates our commitment to serving and growing our U.S. customer base,” Gracious Living president Enzo Macri said in a statement. “We have found the state and local governments very helpful and supportive in building the case for locating our first U.S. plant in Buffalo which we appreciate and look forward to working with them going forward.”

Established in 1990, Gracious Living Corp. is a manufacturer and global importer of outdoor furniture, indoor outdoor organization solutions, utility garage systems, as well as pet products accessories. The company has over $100 million in annual sales.