By Trish Svoboda
Today, March 20, Governor Laura Kelly declared that GAF, a company under Standard Industries and the leading roofing and waterproofing manufacturer in North America, is set to invest over $300 million in Newton. This investment will be directed towards the construction of a new shingle manufacturing plant. The proposed facility, estimated to be around 275,000 square feet, is expected to generate over 130 high-skilled jobs in areas such as management, engineering, and operations.
GAF, a company with over 4,800 staff members, runs its operations from 30 different sites throughout the U.S. It manufactures roofing and waterproofing products for both commercial and residential use, serving customers all over North America. The firm is set to establish its first location in Kansas at the Kansas Logistics Parks in Newton.
GAF roofs safeguard one out of every four homes in the United States. This investment empowers the company to expand its manufacturing capacity for residential roofing and further improve its service to customers across the country.
“This new facility allows us to meet growing customer demand for our market-leading roofing products and expands our ability to innovate as we look to the future,” GAF CEO John Altmeyer said. “We are excited to work with city and state officials throughout this process to build a state-of-the-art factory that will generate new, good-paying jobs and support the greater Newton area through meaningful community involvement.”
The company is set to begin construction in June 2024 and anticipates the start of production in 2027. It is projected that full production capacity will be achieved by the middle of 2029.
“We are thrilled to welcome GAF and the opportunities they are bringing to our community,” Newton Mayor Rod Kreie said. “The greater Newton area offers a strong pipeline of talent, and we’re excited about the significant economic and community impact GAF’s expansion will bring. GAF has been an excellent partner throughout the process, and we thank all those who played a role in helping bring this opportunity to Newton.”
