New Business Brings 65 Jobs to New Rochelle

A family-owned business that spans three generations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for its new facility recently relocated to New Rochelle.

Pearlgreen Corp. purchased the former Barkers Pride Oven Co. building at 30 Pine St. in Nov. 2009. The move brings 55 full-time jobs from New York City to New Rochelle and added 10 new manufacturing jobs.

"What we demonstrate today is manufacturing can be alive in our city," said Mayor Noam Bramson. "I applaud all those who have labored so hard to achieve this."

Councilwoman Marianne Sussman, who is also chairwoman of the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency which helped to bring Pearlgreen to the city, said the company could have relocated elsewhere.

She said the company found New Rochelle had transportation, housing diversity "and a wonderful opportunity for light industrial development."

Pearlgreen President Lawrence Greenberg said the corporation is made up of three components. Pearlgreen Corp. is a distributor of of building maintenance and contractor supplies and hardware. Pearlweave Safety Netting Corp. manufactures and distributes safety netting and fall protection systems. Koring Bros., which relocated from Mexico, manufactures sports netting and batting cages.

Greenberg said he was very happy to be in his new home.

"We are pleased to have the capacity," he said, "and we are extremely proud of the 10 jobs brought back to New Rochelle" from Mexico.

The single-story, 11,563 square foot industrial building was renovated to accommodate new offices, an employee support space, a warehouse, distribution center and manufacturing areas.

The company will initially pay the city $50,000 in lieu of taxes. The amount paid to the city will increase over 10 years to $160,000.