ORANGE, MA, November 1, 2024 — Rodney Hunt Inc., a leading provider of water control gates that began operations in Orange nearly 200 years ago, has entered into an agreement with the Orange Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (OEDIC) to refurbish its manufacturing facility and help spur future business growth and development.
Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), Rodney Hunt and OEDIC intend to collaborate on economic and industrial development, starting with the refurbishment of up to 30,000 square feet of existing space at the company’s 47-acre campus at 46 Mill St. With these improvements, the facility will be able to accommodate additional machines, thereby expanding Rodney Hunt’s manufacturing capacity.
The MOU brings a concerted focus on growth and development for a company that has meant so much to Orange and the surrounding area since its founding in 1840. Today Rodney Hunt is a subsidiary of Jash Engineering Ltd, which has made significant investments and driven a highly successful business turnaround since acquiring the company in 2016.
“In 2016, Rodney Hunt had some challenges,” said Jash Engineering Managing Director Pratik Patel. “Since the acquisition, Jash has invested more than $12 million in Rodney Hunt to help it become the number one gate company. Under Jash, Rodney Hunt has grown exponentially and expanded our workforce to close to 50 employees in Orange, MA. Our head count is increasing by 8-10 people every year.” Rodney Hunt Director of Operations Robert Cantu also expressed his confidence in the company’s growth plans “We are proud of our history of innovation and continuous operation in town going back to the 1840s. The agreement with OEDIC will help us build on that legacy of excellence and industry leadership.”
In addition, Mr. Patel also plans to invest another $10 million in the next few years to improve the overall infrastructure.
Working Together for Economic Growth
The MOU’s development has been a focal point of a months-long collaborative process involving Rodney Hunt, OEDIC, and town, regional, state, and federal agencies, along with area colleges and universities. The major stakeholders in this now ongoing effort, including company executives and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern of Worcester, came together at a Rodney Hunt site visit in July.
The MOU outlines mutual responsibilities and commitments aimed at developing the Rodney Hunt campus and positioning the company for further growth, job expansion and site development. The OEDIC commitments include providing executive support services; facilitating discussions with workforce development partners to meet the company’s future needs for skilled workers; organizing discussions with state agencies to identify economic development incentives; managing a collaborative effort to identify potential projects and partners for development of the broader Rodney Hunt site; and overseeing the planning and permitting process for expansion of Rodney Hunt’s campus in Orange.
