Rendering of Poly-Wood’s new facility. (Photo Provided)

Syracuse-based Poly-Wood Inc., a manufacturer of outdoor furniture made from recycled plastics, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 250 new jobs by 2018.

“As a homegrown Indiana company, Poly-Wood started as two Hoosiers with an idea,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Now, 25 years and 258 employees later, this company is proof that Indiana is a state that works for innovation. With a low-cost business environment and a highly-skilled workforce, entrepreneurs have the resources necessary to succeed.”

Poly-Wood will invest $23.275 million to construct and equip a new 230,000-square-foot manufacturing and warehousing facility at 813 W. Brooklyn St., Syracuse, which currently houses two unused mobile home manufacturing buildings. The new facility, which will complement the company’s existing operations in Syracuse, will allow Poly-Wood to meet growing customer demand for its all-weather furniture product lines. The expansion will also help streamline the shipping process with improved access for transportation at its production facilities.

The company, which currently employs 260 associates in Indiana, expects to break ground on the new facility June 1. Interested applicants may visit www.polywoodinc.com/employment to view current available positions.

“We are extremely excited for the expansion to begin this summer,” said Megan Pierson, director of sales and marketing at Poly-Wood. “It will allow us to provide an even better experience for all of our customers and employees, which will help continue to strengthen the Poly-Wood brand.”

A homegrown-Hoosier company, Poly-Wood Inc. was established in a garage in Syracuse in 1990 and is now a nationwide business serving popular retailers such as Target, Amazon, Home Depot and Wayfair. Founded by Doug Rassi and Mark Phillabaum, the company specializes in manufacturing durable outdoor furniture made from recycled plastic, such as milk jugs and detergent bottles, which withstands all weather conditions unlike traditional wood furniture.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Poly-Wood Inc. up to $1.8 million in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of Syracuse will consider additional incentives at the request of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

“We are ecstatic that Poly-Wood made the decision to expand in Syracuse,” said Henry DeJulia, Syracuse town manager. “We are committed to supporting businesses like Poly-Wood that invest in our community and create good jobs. Poly-Wood is a great example of Syracuse’s proud history of innovation and manufacturing.”