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EZ Bonds Help Chicago West Side Plant Expand

Chicago, Illinois, EZ

Gardner-Gibson Chicago, Inc., in Chicago's West Side EZ, is expanding with $6 million in EZ Facility Bonds.

Manufacturer of Roof Tite, Sta-Cool, Shur-Stik, Black Jack, and other roofing and paving products, Gardner was founded in 1945 and has been operating in Chicago since 1981. Gardner is using the EZ Facility Bonds, authorized in 2002, to acquire adjacent land, expand and renovate its existing plant, and purchase new equipment.

Gardner's Chicago plant formerly employed 29 workers full-time. With the expansion, the company hired 17 new workers as of mid-2004, all residents of the Chicago EZ, and expects to add another 17 workers by mid-2005. Hourly positions such as office, clerical workers, operators, and laborers have a starting salary range of $7.50 to $11.00 per hour. Salaried positions such as managers start at $35,000 per year.

Gardner is one of the largest manufacturers of do-it-yourself products for homeowners and professional-grade roof and driveway products in the United States. Its distribution network includes 17 manufacturing and warehousing facilities across the country, and it employs approximately 500 people.

For more information on the programs of the Chicago EZ, please contact Program Manager Gerry Berman at (312) 744-9745.