ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – A St. Johnsbury manufacturer hopes an influx of cash will bring new jobs to the Northeast Kingdom. Weidmann is one of the world’s largest producers of high-grade insulation materials used in electrical transformers, and their local factory is the only one of its kind in North America.
Crews at Weidmann work around the clock to produce insulation boards made of wood pulp and water.
“Every time you plug in your phone, turn on the light switch — or if you’re in Times Square — all of that electricity flows through transformers which are insulated with material from Weidmann,” said the company’s Kevin Biggie. He says as the electrical grid expands, their company needs to follow suit. “Electric vehicles, data centers — and Weidmann is making this investment to help make our grid resilient.”
Construction is underway on a more than $40 million new storage facility and other expansion and equipment upgrades.
The plant currently employs 300 and Biggie says the expansion will bring 67 additional jobs. “This is not just an expansion of a factory — this is building a future here in St. Johnsbury,” he said.
Town officials say while the expansion is a positive sign, addressing the housing crunch remains a priority. “I’m hearing it every day about some of our employers who’ve got great paying jobs available, and they interview and recruit, then they lose their candidates due to a lack of housing,” said St. Johnsbury Assistant Town Manager Joe Kasprzak. He says they are working with the Northern Vermont Development Association and other private partners to spur housing growth.
Weidmann says construction will continue through the end of the year.