December 21, 2021
Steuben County received an early holiday gift Monday with the announcement by Steuben
County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) Executive Director James Johnson of plans for a
$24 million prefinishing facility in Bath to open in 2023.
Johnson’s announcement before the county Legislature followed the earlier announcement by the
Nashville, Tenn-based LP Building Solutions and Empire State Development the company
will build a new LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® prefinishing facility in the SCIDA Industrial Park
in Bath. The company expects to start construction in 2022 with a targeted opening date in the third
quarter of 2023. The facility is projected to add more than 60 new jobs.
The location of the SCIDA-owned B&H Railroad was key to the LP’s decision to locate in Steuben,
Johnson told county legislators during the regular session of the board.
The firm launched its prefinished siding’ in 2020 and has seen phenomenal growth according to a
statement by LP Executive Vice President Neil Sherman, in a prepared statement. “To support strong
customer demand, LP is aggressively pursuing prefinishing capacity expansion plans both within our
existing facilities as well through this greenfield facility in Steuben County, New York.”
New York State Empire State Development is providing up to $1 million through the Excelsior Jobs
Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments, with other support for New York
State Electric and Gas, SCIDA), and B&H Railroad.
The company plans to manufacture exterior home siding product at the new facility from its production
mills, after which the material will then be painted, packaged, and distributed through LP’s existing
network throughout the Northeast and nation.
Johnson told county lawmakers he was approached by LP in October, followed by swift action by all
parties concerned. “The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency is thrilled to be working with LP and our economic development partners to bring this project to Steuben County,” Johnson said. “This investment and the jobs associated with it will be transformational for the Bath community, and we look forward to supporting the company’s future growth.”
