Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of MITI Manufacturing Company’s new facility in the Fairbanks Scales building in Saint Johnsbury.
“I’m pleased to welcome MITI Manufacturing to their new home in Vermont, as they join a statewide community of thriving manufacturers,” said Governor Scott. “My team and I look forward to continued collaboration with our northern neighbors to help companies expand their U.S. footprints and strengthen both of our economies.”
During a state-led Vermont trade mission to Montreal, Quebec in November 2018, Governor Scott and members of his administration met with MITI owner Jean-Patrick (JP) Lariviere to discuss the company’s possible relocation to Vermont. Though New York and New Hampshire were also contenders to house the new facility, Lariviere was impressed by the commitment and accessibility of Vermont’s top officials.
“I personally want to thank Governor Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development and Agency of Commerce and Community Development, as well as Northern Vermont Development Association, for all their support in helping us establish ourselves in the Northeast Kingdom,” said Lariviere. “In Vermont, we have found quality employees as well as professional fabrication partners in a favorable business environment. We are very proud to call Vermont our home. We look ahead to a bright future here for MITI Co.”
Local legislators including Senator Jane Kitchel, Senator Joe Benning, Representative Scott Campbell and Representative Marcia Martel also attended the ribbon cutting, along with MITI employees.
Steve Vorwerk, operations manager for MITI Manufacturing, said Friday, “We’ve moved the business from Colorado to Vermont, we are based out of Montreal, but it obviously makes it better for us logistically.”
“It makes it logistically more possible for the people in Canadian and in Vermont, in the future we are looking to grow jobs in Vermont, absolutely we are,” said Vorwerk. “We are certainly on the lookout for local talent as of now.” He said growth will start small, and as assembly grows, Vorwerk said, “The main reason we chose Fairbanks is because of what they can manufacture, St. Johnsbury is absolutely the place.”
“We really want to dig our feet into the soil and become a big part of the community,” said Vorwerk.
Tim Tierney, Director of International Trade and Business Recruitment for the Department of Economic Development for the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, on Friday said, “We are making plans to celebrate the arrival of MITI Corp.”
“The owner JP Lariviere will now be closer to better oversee production,” of the products, said Tierney. “Governor Scott and Secretary (Agency of Commerce and Community Development Michael) Schirling met with JP during a Vermont trade mission to Montreal in November and that meeting cemented the decision to move for JP.”
Jennifer Glass, a spokeswoman for MITI Manufacturing in Colorado, on Friday explained the lines that are moving to Vermont. “We produce wheel immobilizers,” said Glass, referencing the Denver boot, also known in New England as the Boston boot. “Another one of our products is decontamination systems, portable decontamination shower systems, these are on-site apparatuses that can de-contaminate gear, firefighters, hazmat uniforms … people can walk right under the shower while they’re wearing hazmat uniforms, and we’ll be producing them both in Vermont.”
The company choosing St. Johnsbury is a positive development, and David Snedeker, executive director for the Northeastern Vermont Development Association said in recent days, “MITI Mfg. is a metals manufacturing business that a Canadian developer purchased in CO and has relocated to VT. One of the company’s main products is ‘parking boots,’ used by law enforcement for unpaid tickets, etc. They have other product lines as well, but will begin at the Fairbanks facility with their core product. VT is a good option for Montreal-based companies trying to serve small manufacturers they control in the US.
MITI (a division of Montreal-based firm, Sekurcorp) manufactures parking enforcement devices and portable decontamination showers. The company had been based in Colorado since 1961.
Source: Governor 10.2.2019