Area Development
IRIS USA, a manufacturer and distributor of injection-molded plastic products, will expand operations and establish a manufacturing facility in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The company plans to create 95 new jobs.

The company will purchase a 34-acre property for the construction of a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility to respond to strong growth in customer demand, especially in the area of e-commerce. The company is investing at least $83.6 million into the project, and has committed to the creation of 95 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.

“IRIS USA, Inc. is very excited to be partnering with CAN DO, Inc. and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as we embark on our company’s East Coast expansion plans,” said Doc Takahashi, president of IRIS. “Everyone in Luzerne County and on the Governor’s Action Team has gone out of their way to be incredibly welcoming and helpful, so it’s easy to see why so many distinguished companies have chosen to locate here. We can’t wait to be part of the Hazle Township community.”

As an incentive, IRIS received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $237,500 Pennsylvania First grant, a $42,750 WEDnet grant for employee training, and $285,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be issued after the new jobs are created.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team in collaboration with Greater Hazelton CAN DO. “Manufacturing has such a strong history in Pennsylvania, and with this expansion, IRIS is helping continue that tradition today,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “This facility will be IRIS’ first on the east coast United States, so the fact that they chose Pennsylvania above our competitor states speaks volumes about the strength of our commonwealth as a business destination for manufacturers. This is great news for Luzerne County workers and their families.”

“We are very pleased to welcome IRIS to our industrial park and happy that the company chose Greater Hazleton as the location for its newest manufacturing operations in the United States,” said Kevin O’Donnell, President & CEO of CAN DO. “Our great location to market and our dedicated workforce are paying dividends once again for our region. Today, companies in Humboldt Industrial Park are employing nearly 10,000 people.”