A Lower Towamensing Township business is getting help with its expansion plans.

Architectural Polymers LLC, 1220 Little Gap Road, was approved for a 15-year, $772,650 loan at a 4.25% reset interest rate.

Awarded through the Northeastern PA Alliance, the loan will cover the cost of a 4,000-square-foot expansion of the company’s existing Lower Towamensing Township facility.

Marshall Walters, who is the owner of MWRE LLC, and also CEO and founder of Architectural Polymers LLC, said that the complex is owned by MWRE LLC, while Architectural Polymers is the tenant.

He said that MWRE LLC received the PIDA loan to make capital improvements for the benefit of its tenant, Architectural Polymers.

Walters said the entire 1220 facility has been under a constant state of expansion since 2020. In all, three buildings and the needed land development.

About the company

Architectural Polymers has been a leader and innovator in the concrete form fabrication industry for 30 years, offering concrete solutions to meet the individual needs of pre-cast, tilt-up and cast-in-place construction projects.

The company has developed a vast array of innovative methods that offer a superior solution to traditional brickwork and masonry and benefits the architectural community.

Applications range from high quality concrete form liner molds for decorative concrete art on North America’s highways to custom manufacturing thin brick inlay systems to clad schools, hospitals, commercial office buildings, condominiums, and parking decks.

Architectural Polymers thrives on finding cost-effective solutions to create beautiful, decorative concrete structures.

The company supplies architects, owners, general contractors, and pre-cast concrete manufacturers with the top choices of quality thin brick approved by the Pre-Cast/Pre-Stressed Concrete Institute.

Approved plan

Walters said all the projects are derived from an approved plan received from Lower Towamensing Township in January 2019.

“The latest project scope, which is what the PIDA loan was for, included a 4,000-square-foot building, a large soil stabilization retaining wall, concrete surfacing, storage space upgrades and drainage improvements,” Walters said. “This expansion will give greater capacity and assist with the needs and goals of Architectural Polymers LLC.”

Walters said that a private equity firm, Stonebridge Partners, based in White Plains, New York, made a majority owner capital investment in October 2023. Walters retained the largest minority ownership share percentage.

He said the plan is to grow the business, create more jobs and create more opportunities to the people of Carbon County and surrounding counties, such as Monroe, Schuylkill, Northampton and possibly Lehigh.

Walters said this will add about 20 jobs, and said it will also create Architectural Polymers’ additional first and second shift positions.

“Overall, this will assist in efficiencies and building to help with storage of completed projects and overrun of raw materials,” he said. “We’re getting close to our 25th anniversary on the site.”

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger announced recently that his department had approved Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority grants in three counties.

So far this year, the state has approved $9.9 million in low interest loans that have resulted in 56 full-time jobs and $20.7 million in private investment. The recent announcement of $3.3 million in low interest loans will create at least eight new full-time jobs and retain 41 positions, the DCED said.

“These PIDA loans will help businesses in Carbon, Lawrence and Westmoreland counties to grow, create new jobs, and support existing ones,” Siger said. “The Shapiro administration is laser-focused on transforming Pennsylvania into an economic powerhouse, and PIDA loans give commonwealth businesses the tools they need to help make that happen.”

Other businesses that were grant recipients include The Container Crafters LLC in Lawrence County and ASG Investments LLC in Westmoreland County.