American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding Translates Into Jobs and More Jobs For Family Owned Business

Secretary Donovan addresses 200 employees of Northeast Building Products (NSP) after touring the manufacturing plant with Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Philadelphia Housing Authority Executive Director Carl Greene.

Alan Levin, President and CEO of Northeast Building Products, in Philadelphia is counting his lucky stars that the Philadelphia Housing Authority picked his company to put windows in 900 of its housing units. With $126 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for capital projects, Philadelphia Housing Authority Executive Director Carl Greene went shopping for energy efficient quality windows and discovered Northeast Building Products. Levin says Greene is requiring that he be able to replace any window that needs repair on the same day that it’s reported.

And as they say in Hollywood, the rest is history! Alan Levin and his family owned business have expanded to meet the growing demand, putting more people back to work. Levin and Northeast Building Products have been touted by the President, featured on national television network news and radio programs and spread across the front page of the local newspaper. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan stopped by to tour the facility and highlight the increase of 162,000 jobs in March. This is considered the highest employment jump in three years.

Worker at Northeast Building Products assembling a window frame as HUD Secretary Donovan tours the plant.

The Levin family and his employees applauded the good news while Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter emphasized the impact of the ARRA funding on Northeast Building Products, the surrounding neighborhood, the community at large and the City’s economy. The City’s Redevelopment Authority plans to use Northeast Building Products for its window needs while using an additional $44 million in ARRA funds to rehabilitate homes in neighborhoods with high foreclosure rates.

For Northeast Building Products, the employee rolls have grown from 150 workers in 2008 to 285 people today. Those employees who work around the clock to produce those energy efficient windows, some of whom were unemployed just a few short months ago, are grateful for the work. This company’s success serves as a shining example of the impact of ARRA. Donovan told Levin, “You are the best example in the country of what the Recovery Act has done in getting the economy back on track.”

Donovan saluted Northeast Building Products and the leadership of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia elected officials for delivering on the promise of the Recovery Act: creating jobs, helping those harmed by the economic crisis and laying a new foundation to make America competitive in the 21st Century.