Housing Secretary celebrates new jobs

    Visits window factory to trumpet rising number of jobs

    The nationwide surge in employment numbers for March suggests the economy is bouncing back. That’s the message U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan brought to Philadelphia Friday as he talked with workers at a window manufacturing company.

    As Secretary Donovan, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter looked on, workers cut and welded new windows at the Northeast Building Products plant.

    The company has produced 8,000 energy efficient windows for housing projects under the federal recovery act.

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    Secretary Donovan said the plant is proof that the economy is getting back on track.

    Donovan: I wanted to come and see for myself the miracle that is happening right here in this plant in Philadelphia and the example that you all are setting for the rest of the country about what economic recovery means and what we can all do together.

    Stimulus funds were used to create 100 new jobs and build an extension for the company’s distribution center.

    President and CEO Alan Levin said the money was essential in helping to hire one-hundred employees, build an extension and lift morale in the company.
    Levin: Two years ago there was doom and gloom in our industry, there were 60 plant closings throughout the united states, now everyone feels the positive energy, the excitement, ya know, we are offering unlimited overtime for anyone who is interested in it just to keep people here and happy so we’re really excited.

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