LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. - British cabinet producer Wren Manufacturing Inc. has announced plans to establish a North American headquarters and manufacturing center in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. A combined 360 jobs will be created by the custom kitchen cabinet manufacturer.
A privately-owned designer, manufacturer, and retailer of custom kitchen cabinets, Wren Mfg. will invest $15.4 million in new equipment and leasehold improvements at the 252,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and 10,046-square-foot office facility, according to a release by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's office. Wren also intends to add retail centers across North America and provide support to them from this location.
“We’re excited to bring our vertically integrated model to the United States, the largest home improvement market in the world,” said Rafal Klimek, Manufacturing and Logistics director for Wren Kitchens. “Luzerne County has a tremendous amount of talent in the local area and its location allows us to reach a huge percentage of the American population within a short drive time.”
Wren Mfg. received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $1.25 million Pennsylvania First grant, $392,400 in funding for job training through the WEDnet program, and $720,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs. The company may also be eligible for DCED’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program.
“Wren Manufacturing’s choice to establish its North American headquarters in Pennsylvania speaks to what our commonwealth can offer to businesses looking to grow and expand,” said Gov. Wolf. “This move will make a great difference in this Luzerne County community, making nearly 400 new jobs available as our economy moves toward recovery.”
DCED Secretary Dennis Davin visited Wren Mfg.’s headquarters in the United Kingdom in September 2019 on a business development mission that highlighted the commonwealth’s competitive advantages in workforce and advanced manufacturing to prospective investors considering the establishment of American operations.
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team with assistance from the Office of International Business Development and its representative in the United Kingdom.