Sec. Davin Continues 'Jobs that Pay' Tour at Versatex Building Products in Beaver County, Highlighting Commitment to Supporting Employees

Wolf Administration Continues Efforts to Raise the Wage in PA

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

Jun 23, 2016, 03:03 ET

ALIQUIPPA, Pa., June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin today continued the "Jobs that Pay" tour at Versatex Building Products, a manufacturer of trim, fascia, soffit, and decorative exterior moulding pieces for the home. Davin commended company officials for its continued growth and strong commitment to supporting its workforce.

"Pennsylvania's manufacturing operations are leading the way through innovative techniques combined with a forward thinking business approach that supports employee morale, productivity, and quality of work by paying employees a competitive wage," said Sec. Davin. "Versatex is growing and thriving in Beaver County while at the same time, increasing the purchasing power of its employees."

In 2015, Vesatex was approved for Enterprise Zone Tax Credits through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. Today, Versatex has 91 employees in Aliquippa and has raised the starting wage to $14 per hour in March 2016.

"We want to attract and retain good, flexible individuals who are willing to learn multiple jobs and increase their skills to support our growing company. We took a multifaceted approach to improving employee recruiting and retention which began by improving our health insurance coverage and increasing hourly wage rates by 5 percent overall with the starting wage for a full-time position increasing to $14 per hour," said Evan Kaffenes, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Versatex. "Through these efforts combined with increased recruitment, we now have an ample supply of candidates and have already met our 2016 hiring goals."

Governor Wolf is calling on Pennsylvania's House and Senate to pass legislation to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.15 per hour, while tying it to inflation to maintain its purchasing power over time. A minimum wage increase to $10.15 per hour supports local businesses, creates new jobs, and would boost state revenue by roughly $60 million annually.

Versatex Building Products, LLC was was founded in 2003, and manufacturers trim, fascia, soffit, and decorative exterior moulding pieces for the home. Vesatex is a leader in this market and has recent expanded distribution to include the Midwest, the Gulf Coast, and Canada.

For more information on Versatex, visit www.versatex.com.

For more information about Governor Wolf's commitment to Raising the Wage in Pennsylvania, visit www.governor.pa.gov/RaiseTheWage.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyndsay Kensinger, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development