A large employer in Berkshire County has recently announced they are expanding and planning to bring more jobs to the area, with an agreement to purchase a stationery company based in Southern Maine. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…
Crane & Co., a manufacturer of stationery, announced Thursday that they had reached a deal with Hallmark Cards, Inc. to acquire subsidiary William Arthur, based in Kennebunk, ME. Crane which operates a manufacturing facility in North Adams, said that with the acquisition they are likely to add 100 jobs to the small city.
Katie Lacey, President of Crane Stationary, says that acquiring William Arthur will strengthen the future of the company headquartered in Dalton.
William Arthur also makes Vera Wang brand papers.
According to Lacey, business will be consolidated to Crane’s North Adams facility in the second half of 2013.
North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright praised the move and said that the expansion will find a good fit in a city that is rooted in manufacturing.
Alcombright said that the city of North Adams will do their part to assist Crane.
Mike Supranowicz, President and CEO of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, said that according to the International Economic Development Council, or IEDC, local investment has a ripple effect.
Supranowicz highlighted some of the other happenings in the area that are strengthening the Berkshires as a better place to do business.
Specifics of the agreement between Crane & Co. and Hallmark are not being released. The acquisition is expected to close at the end of this month.
Since 1964, Crane has produced the currency paper for the U.S. Government.
