The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), a trade union representing painters, drywall finishers, and workers in related fields, will invest $20 million to relocate its headquarters to Hanover, Maryland, according to Maryland economic development officials. The organization plans to relocate 120 existing positions from its current headquarters in Washington, D.C., and create 100 jobs at its new facility, a 60,000-square-foot building on which construction is expected to begin in June. "The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades was founded by a handful ot tradesmen in Baltimore just over 120 years ago," says James Williams, IUPAT's general president. "I'm certain our founders would be proud to know just how far we've come as an organiztaion and that we're returning to our roots here in Maryland. We're excited about doing our part to help this great state grow its business community and provide some jobs at the same time." The state is providing a $250,000 loan to assist with the construction costs; a county economic development agency has offered $25,000 in work force training assistance. IUPAT officials expect construction to be complete on the facility by August 2010.
