Worthington Assembly co-owner Neil Scanlon talks to state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, off camera, while state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, looks over the company’s new pick-and-place machine, which was funded by a $250,000 state grant. STAFF PHOTO/CHRIS LARABEE

State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, reads a Senate citation for Worthington Assembly, which was recognized by the state Legislature for its leadership in the manufacturing industry. STAFF PHOTO/CHRIS LARABEE

Worthington Assembly co-owners Neil Scanlon and Rafal Dybacki talk to state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, and state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, during a tour of their facility Friday morning. STAFF PHOTO/CHRIS LARABEE

Valley Steel Stamp employee Dawn Riddell cleans firearm components at the company’s manufacturing facility on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/CHRIS LARABEE

Valley Steel Stamp in Greenfield was one of two Franklin County businesses awarded a $250,000 manufacturing grant by the Baker-Polito Administration. STAFF PHOTO/CHRIS LARABEE

Two Franklin County manufacturers each received $250,000 grants to invest in new equipment that will drive production and job growth.

Valley Steel Stamp (VSS) in Greenfield and South Deerfield-based Worthington Assembly were each awarded $250,000 from the Baker-Polito Administration at the Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up event held at Polar Park in Worcester on Sept. 16. Worthington Assembly was also recognized by the state Legislature for its leadership in the manufacturing industry.

Both companies will use the grants to invest in machines and tools that will expand their business, while also offering high-paying jobs to residents in the region.

“This grant really focuses on new product integration,” said Katie Szelewicki, VSS vice president of human resources. She added the money will help “diversify” and “enhance technology for aerospace.”

VSS, which already produces engine and landing gear technology, along with firearms components, will be able to streamline its operations as it works with companies like Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut.

“We’re bringing good-paying jobs to Greenfield,” Szelewicki said. “It helps us grow, it helps Greenfield grow. It’s great.”

Szelewicki said the grant is another ingredient contributing to the company’s rapid growth. It has already filled a second building with employees and manufacturing machines. New contracts and cutting-edge technology, she added, attract new employees. VSS has already hired 40 new people this year.

“It’s crazy how it evolved over the years,” Szelewick said walking around the company’s second building. “We continue to see growth for the next five years.”

In South Deerfield, Worthington Assembly has invested its $250,000 grant into new pick-and-place machines that will assist in constructing circuit boards and other technology so small a microscope is needed to inspect it.

Co-owners Neil Scanlon and Rafal Dybacki said Worthington Assembly, which assembles circuit boards mainly for the medical industry, along with other, smaller orders, said this “totally critical” grant helps a small manufacturing center invest a large amount of money toward replacing machines from 2007 with ones made this year. They estimated these machine upgrades and other investments totaled $1 million, which is “difficult for a small business.”

“What a lot of people don’t realize with this, is how quickly this equipment becomes obsolete,” Scanlon said. “If you go back to 2007, that was a big investment. It’s a dinosaur.”

Worthington Assembly currently employs 36 people at its South Deerfield manufacturing site and Scanlon said this investment will “help with new hires,” especially as they take on “more advanced work.”

On Friday morning, State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, presented the state Manufacturing Leadership Award to Worthington Assembly.

“What you have here is very special,” Blais said to Scanlon and Dybacki during a tour of the facility.

“This is a big deal,” Comerford said of Worthington Assembly operating a high-tech business in South Deerfield before adding that her mind “is a little blown” by the advanced manufacturing that takes place there.

Speaking outside Worthington Assembly, Blais and Comerford said this region has a “proud history” of manufacturing and it is great to see “this proud history is continuing on,” especially at a point when job growth is needed.

“The level of excellence is so clear,” Comerford said. “We need business growth in western Massachusetts. It helps to grow our overall economy.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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