PA: Royal Industries to Relocate to Lehigh County, Create 80 Jobs
Oct 13, 2017
Governor Tom Wolf announced that Royal Industries International, Inc. (Royal), a manufacturer of promotional products, will relocate its facility from Brooklyn, New York to Allentown, Lehigh County, creating 80 new Pennsylvania jobs.
“This move from Royal isn’t just a big win for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley – it’s a big win for Pennsylvania,” said Governor Wolf. “When companies choose to relocate here to Pennsylvania from another state, it shows that we have the business climate that enables companies large and small look for when they plan to grow thrive. I applaud Royal for their decision to come here, and on behalf of the commonwealth, I welcome them to Pennsylvania.”
Royal currently operates in a 55,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn and needs more space to accommodate additional production resulting from recent company acquisitions. The company will purchase an 85,000-square-foot facility in the City of Allentown, and has pledged to invest at least $3,730,000 into the project, including the building acquisition, renovations, and the purchase of equipment and furniture. The project will create 80 new Pennsylvania jobs over the next three years.
“I feel like the city of Allentown really wanted us,” said Mike Rudensky, who owns Royal Industries along with his brothers. “The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Governor’s Action made us feel very welcome, and I look forward to working with everyone in the future as we move forward with this project.”
Royal received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development for a $27,000 WEDnet grant for job training and $63,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and a $1,825,000 Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority low-interest loan. The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
“We are very thankful that Royal Industries has chosen to call the Lehigh Valley its home,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC president and CEO. “This project was aided by the remarkable collaborative efforts of several Lehigh Valley organizations, including LVEDC, the city of Allentown, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Economic development doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and while these organizations have always worked closely together, the level of collaboration in this instance has been truly exemplary.”
A family company, Royal Industries was founded almost 50 years ago by Eli Rudensky, and is now managed by three of his sons. From its humble beginnings in an old Brooklyn warehouse making “Howdy Doody” wallets, it now manufactures over 250 quality stock and custom vinyl products.
