Long-Time Business G+H Orthodontics Expands in Franklin, Grows Workforce
When a public-private partnership was formed in 2017 to construct a shell building to attract new business to Franklin, its ultimate use was unknown. Now, long-time Franklin dental equipment manufacturer G&H Orthodontics is relocating to the shell building to accommodate its growing business and expanding workforce. G&H currently has 134 employees and will add 116 new ones likely by the end of 2022. The shell building sits on 13 acres at 40 Linville Way in the Franklin Business Park, which is in an Economic Revitalization Area. The company had outgrown its facility on Graham Road.
G&H recently was approved for a 10-year personal property tax abatement on a $1.165 million equipment investment. By the end of the year, the company will move into the 55,000-square-foot building recently acquired by Patch Development, which has received a 10-year real property tax abatement on $3.8 million of structural improvements. The Franklin Redevelopment Commission provided a $100,000 cash incentive with funds from a tax increment financing (TIF) district.
Aspire was pleased to support this relocation project during its initial site selection and state incentive application phase.
“We are delighted that G&H has chosen to remain in Franklin and Johnson County, and we congratulate the company on plans to move into new, larger quarters. We will welcome the new G&H employees as they are brought aboard,” said Aspire Economic Development + Chamber Alliance President and CEO Christian Maslowski.
“G&H is a great example of the type of company Aspire wants to retain in Johnson County and attract to the area, those that fall within the advanced industries economic supersector. Such companies typically offer high-quality jobs and well-paid positions, precisely the jobs and skills being grown through this expansion,” Maslowski said. He noted that G&H current employees earn an average $23 an hour and new employees working at the new Franklin location will hold positions paying $25 per hour, higher than the average for Johnson County.
Maslowski noted, “This G&H move helps advance the two targets of Johnson County’s 5-year economic strategic plan: by 2025, develop 50% more occupations in advanced industries in Johnson County and grow the average annual wage by 15% to the benefit of workers at all income levels.” He added that Aspire is eager to work with other companies to attract this caliber of jobs with their accompanying higher wages.
Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett recalled, “When I became mayor in 2017, it was one of my goals to find a business to purchase the shell building. After several possible suiters, G&H Orthodontics emerged as a perfect fit for the building. It has been a pleasure working with G&H Orthodontics and we are ecstatic that they chose to continue investing in our community. I look forward to watching their business thrive at their new location.”
Franklin Community Development Specialist Dana Monson said the public-private partnership included the City of Franklin, Runnebohm Construction of Shelbyville, Linville Farms which owned the property, and the Johnson County Development Corp (prior to it becoming Aspire).
“The purpose of the shell building was to encourage economic development and to bring more interest to the city,” she explained. “The inventory of existing buildings was low at the time; now, more spec buildings are going up.” Monson added, “Because the shell building was successful, it encouraged more development. Success breeds success.”
Franklin Community Development Director Krista Linke agreed. “Constructing a shell building has economic development benefits. If someone is looking for space, it saves time at the front-end on-site planning, approvals and construction.” She added that the city was able to keep G&H because of the shell building. “We’re glad to be able to retain an existing company in our community and help keep it successful.”
The manufacturer of orthodontics products serves customers in nearly 100 countries and has been located in Franklin for more than 40 years. G&H is a dental equipment and supplies manufacturing company founded in 1975. It is a leading provider of clinical solutions for the orthodontic community providing a full line of products including brackets, bands and attachments, tubes, wires, and clear aligners.