“The year 2020 will be remembered for COVID-19. But in Iola, it will also be remembered as the year Peerless Products came to town,” predicted Iola Mayor Jon Wells at Tuesday’s celebration of the company’s formal announcement of opening a manufacturing facility in town.
Wells was joined by state dignitaries Gov. Laura Kelly and Commerce Secretary David Toland as well as a host of local officials who all played a role in bringing Peerless to town, including Thrive Allen County, Iola council members, Allen County commissioners and Iola Industries.
Gov. Kelly commended the transaction as a win-win.
“Peerless is a fantastic, home-grown Kansas company with a long history in Fort Scott. I appreciate its leadership team recognizing what Iola and the entire Southeast Kansas region has to offer,” she said.
Based in Fort Scott, the 68-year-old company manufactures architectural aluminum windows and doors and has a workforce of 400. A new product line, the G800, will be produced at the Iola site.
“It’s a scaled-down version of our architectural window,” said Josh Granere, incoming plant manager. “We’ll be able to provide windows in a matter of days, instead of weeks.”
Granere said the $10.5 million investment in Allen County will bring 125 jobs to the area over a five-year period. “But honestly, I expect to exceed those numbers,” he said.
Also present Tuesday were Coby Jones, president of Peerless, and Bill Osbern, CEO and owner.
Granere noted that a 15-foot LED sign bearing the Peerless logo will soon be installed. “Peerless is happy to be here, we’re proud to be here, and we’re here to stay,” he said.
It’s been since 1994 when Russell Stover Candies announced a plant in Iola that a major manufacturer has come to town. Peerless will be moving into what was most recently Endurance Lift Solutions in the 2000 block of North State Street. Originally, Midland Brake built the 150,000 sq. ft. facility, opening in 1973. It was later acquired by Haldex Brakes.
TOLAND recalled a tour of the Haldex plant shortly before it closed its doors in 2010 after 37 years.
“I remember seeing the faces of some of the 160 employees about to lose their jobs,” he said in his former role as president of Thrive Allen County. “It was a dark time. Those were difficult days.”
“It’s certainly a lot better being here today and to know things are back on track.
“It’s a big deal for Peerless Products to choose to expand in Iola. We know Peerless could have chosen to expand in any number of places. We know of a state about 50 miles east that was in competition against us for this expansion.”
Toland acknowledged the efforts of Lisse Regehr, current CEO and president of Thrive, in helping bring Peerless to town.
