Company to Create 200 Jobs With Planned Green Production Facility in San Francisco

May 21, 2009 - PRLog -- UBS Manufacturing Company, a sustainable designer and producer of residential and commercial building components and structures, has announced the planned development of its new west coast production and assembly facility in the San Francisco area.  The operation will bring up to 200 new, green, union jobs to local residents and nearly $80 million in annual, local spending.

The company is currently in discussions with the City of San Francisco to locate along the city's southern waterfront.  Company spokesman, Aaron Grizzell, stated that "most existing firms have exited or plan to exit the city due to high costs and a feeling that San Francisco is not interested in these types of operations.  We actually embraced the notion of having a green assembly facility here, in large part due to our type of technology, the leadership we provide, and the city's notoriety as a magnet for important, ‘greentech’ programs.  It seems a natural fit."

The company estimates that after full implementation, it will spend over $50 million annually with local businesses and vendors with another $27 million being infused by company employees.  “We believe the economic impact of our operation will be substantially felt," said Grizzell. In addition, as a result of the firm’s 200 jobs, 65-70 indirect employment opportunities are projected.   "The City has expressed a great need for green production jobs, and our company is directly tied to their creation.“

With an industry-first, collective bargaining agreement with the Northern California Carpenters and working closely with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) leaders for planned maritime needs, UBS Manufacturing has made a firm commitment to organized labor.  "We actually approached the unions first, because we wanted to ensure a quality workforce, a cost structure, and labor buy-in up front.  I think the unions appreciated the fact that we came to them on the front-end,“ stated Mr. Grizzell.

In addition, the company’s focus on working-income housing markets will help to create entirely new jobs and fresh field work for the building trades, without impacting on existing, market-rate construction jobs in the area.  According to Grizzell, “this is opens up entirely new work for the trades.  The Association of Bay Area Governments’ Housing Element estimates for the last seven-year cycle shows the devastating impact on working-income residents and their ability to afford a compatibly priced home.  We are able to deliver these solutions, while substantially lowering the types of subsidies cities often pay to build these units.”  

When addressing the rapidly decreasing cost of existing homes, Grizzell observes that “most of these homes are in outlier communities, where the problem of high commute costs and fragile infrastructures remain.  Consequently, we are seeing large segments of the working-income population refocusing on new ways to increase quality-of-life more affordably and sustainably by seeking units closer to their work, cultural centers, and locations that will allow for greater access to activities at lower costs.  Established urban centers are generally magnets for all three of these needs.  So, we place emphasis on urban housing solutions.”

Currently, UBS Manufacturing has letters of intent for the production of over 150 units of veterans and working-income housing in two established communities in the near east bay.  

Regarding training, the company says that unlike many others, prospects who qualify for the UBS Manufacturing training program will be placed on track for a full-time job with the company.  In addition, as part of its relationship with the carpenters, the firm will make the light gauge steel program available to apprentices and journeyman, so they can increase their skills when working with LGS in the field.  

There has been a small measure of resistance to the program from people who remain unidentified, and the company has taken its concerns to local government.  "We feel our program as a win-win, but obviously some seem to have a different view, and we invite them to come and discuss those feelings with us, and tell us why they believe 200 green, union jobs, nearly $80 million in local spending, new homes for working-income residents, new work for the trades, and new industry leadership are bad for the city and the local economy,” said Grizzell.  “They have yet to take us up on the offer.  In the end, we don't think their arguments will hold up in the light of day.  However, we will continue to invite these parties to the table to speak openly and directly with us."

The next round of meetings with city officials and union leaders are being scheduled in order to finalize commitments and to ramp-up the training program.  States Grizzell, "we will engage the mayor in the process, because we look for the city to meaningfully support our operation, just as we have made a meaningful commitment of up to 200 new, career-oriented, green jobs, dedicated spending, and the creation of a new economic engine for San Francisco.”

# # #

UBS Manufacturing Company, is a designer and manufacturer of sustainable,
light gauge steel, structural and non-bearing components for residential and commercial
buildings, with the primary focus on the residential construction sector