MEDCO recognized for expansion project

When Legacy Manufacturing was looking to build a new corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility, the Marion company turned to the Marion Economic Development Co. for assistance.

On Thursday, MEDCO received the Professional Developers of Iowa business retention and expansion award for assisting the privately-owned business as it planned a $10.4 million, 133,000-square-foot building under construction in the Marion Enterprise Center.

Legacy Manufacturing, a division of family-owned Weems Industries, produces equipment for automotive and industrial professionals, including hoses, reels, compressed air line accessories, tire maintenance products, greasing equipment and manual transfer pumps.

The new facility at 6509 Partners Ave. will more than double the company's existing footprint in Marion. Mark Weems, president of Legacy Manufacturing, said the expansion will assist the company in bringing manufacturing of some of its products back from Asia, and providing more job opportunities to Marion.

”Our mission is to look at everything we manufacture and try to repatriate as much content as we possibly can, and that's why this facility is critical,” Weems said.

Legacy Manufacturing, which has operated in Marion for more than 20 years, has acquired enough land to permit future expansion up to 320,000 square feet. The company will join ELPLAST America as the initial occupants of the Marion Enterprise Center.