Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison said he is swilling to fight to keep Green Terra Homes from closing its doors in Trenton and moving to Port Hope.
Last week, Green Terra Homes which builds eco-friendly modular homes and buildings informed Quinte News it is closing and has already laid off 80 of its 140 employees.
Green Terra Homes has been in Trenton for five years and two years ago it established a manufacturing site on 10 Douglas Street, however it’s too small and they require a larger facility.
Operations Manager Max Broojerd explained business has been booming in Quinte West and the intention was to stay. The company filled $13.5 million orders in 14 months – on track to hit $100 million in sales this year.
“We purchased and fixed up the long-time vacant factory building at 260 West Street to the tune of $500,000,” said Broojerd. “We were assured in writing from the City that we could use the building for our operations and now we are met with guidelines that are impossible to fulfill.”
Mayor Harrison said they want to sit down with the company this week.
He added they have to keep the building and staff safe and keep to safety standards, however Harrison says they want them to stay.