Usheco, Inc is a small, family owned plastic manufacturing company based in Kingston, NY that has been in business for over 60 years. Like many businesses, the outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in an immediate decrease in orders which, in turn, led to reduced hours for many employees and the drafting of a layoff strategy. However, as demands for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) increased, the company began to strategize around how to pivot their business instead. In response to the call from the Governor, Usheco has begun to manufacture their own face masks as well as providing die cutting for distance shields and other face mask components for customers like SUNY New Paltz, IBM, and the Yale Hospital System.
WDI is providing funding to the company to support the purchase of a die cutting machine that will increase production capacity to meet the growing demand. This new production has enabled the company to return employees to full time hours and is expected to lead to an increase in production staff.
