Building products company expands in Frederickson, predicts 240 new jobs over time
Make no mistake, the housing boom has been very good to James Hardie Industries as it recently celebrated a Tacoma-area expansion.
The manufacturer of fiber-cement siding and trim products in 2018 topped the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County’s list of fastest-growing companies.
The company says its $187 million expansion will help it keep pace with continued growth.
The 400,000-square-foot facility, one of nine nationwide, is at 4617 192nd St. in Frederickson, on the same campus as the original manufacturing facility built in 1998.
It eventually will bring up to 240 additional jobs to the region, according to the company.
The brand first created fiber-cement siding products in the early 1980s as an alternative to wood and vinyl.
The company, in its announcement, said that its Tacoma-area operations “will make a wide range of products, from James Hardie’s flagship HardiePlank lap siding to HardieBacker cement boards for interior spaces.”
The expansion gained some outside financial help via a $100,000 Working Washington grant from the Department of Commerce to the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County to reimburse some of the company’s construction prep costs.
According to the company, the expansion has become one of the largest capital improvement investments in Pierce County and benefited from streamlined permitting with the county.
“This additional capacity, with the know-how in this facility, will enable us to meet our customers’ needs via high-quality products and consistently good service. We are proud to call Tacoma home, and we are pleased with the investment we are making in a community that shares our commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility and a safe and healthy work environment,” said James Hardie Industries CEO Jack Truong in the company’s news release.
The company noted it was the first to enter into an amortization agreement with the county to spread out the cost of sewer connection charges.
“We congratulate James Hardie on the opening of their second manufacturing facility,” said Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, in remarks released ahead of Friday’s ribbon-cutting. “As Pierce County welcomes companies to locate and grow their businesses here, we’re proud to have supported James Hardie’s growth for over 20 years. This new investment will have a positive impact on our local economy, creating jobs for our residents and more business for contractors and suppliers in the county.”
“This is especially valuable as many veterans remain in the area and transition to civilian life after serving at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in the release. “We know that veterans bring a range of skills and talent to any enterprise, and I am pleased there will be advanced manufacturing jobs available to them and others in Pierce County.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
