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A.R.E. Accessories expansion: $20 million investment and 100 new jobs coming to Massillon

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A.R.E. Accessories expansion: million investment and 100 new jobs coming to Massillon

MASSILLON − A.R.E. Accessories and RealTruck Inc. are developing a new facility in Massillon, creating 100 new jobs.

The new facility, located at 4676 Erie Street S, is planned to expand output of custom fiberglass mold operations and aluminum truck cap manufacturing.

Why is A.R.E. expanding in Massillon?

Greg Kerr, YP of plant operations at RealTruck, wrote via email that the expansion is needed because of growing demand for A.R.E products.

“The whole focus of this expansion is to provide for growth,” Kerr said.

He said they will scale up production of fiberglass caps in Massillon as well as scale up and move production of aluminum caps, currently produced in Dundee, and custom mold products, currently produced in Mount Eaton, to the larger Massillon site.

The warehouse A.R.E. is moving into was previously the location of Purell hand sanitizer maker GOJO Industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility is about 430,000 square feet.

In recent real estate transfers filed with the Stark County Auditor’s Office, the warehouse and three nearby properties were purchased by BMC 4676 LLC for $25 million.

A.R.E. bringing new jobs to Massillon

The investment is about $20 million, according to Ted Herncane, Massillon director of economic development, and Mayor Jamie Slutz.

The expansion will create 100 new jobs and relocate 230 jobs from other locations to Massillon, Herncane said.

“I don’t remember the last time we had an expansion of over 300 jobs, it’s a big deal,” he said. “It shows that the company is strong and growing, and that Massillon is the right place for that growth.”

The project to move operations into the new facility will be done in three phases.

The transportation organization will be moved into the new building and manufacturing space will be made available during Phase 1.

In Phase 2, operations of the Dundee facility will be moved to the new building. This is estimated to be done by the end of August.

Phase 3, which is scheduled to be complete by end of March, will include moving the custom mold facility into the new space.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved an eight-year, 1.311% job creation tax credit for the expansion project, which is expected to create 111 full-time positions, generating $5.6 million in new annual payroll, according to a press release.

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.

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