Windows of opportunity

August 10, 2010

TEMPERANCE — For 34 years, Joe Gulch of Temperance made his living framing houses.

But when the housing market collapsed, work dried up for the self-employed builder.

About a year ago, he hired on at Sunrise Windows in Temperance and hasn’t looked back.

“Right now, I definitely feel more secure because I get a check every week,” he said. “When you don’t get a check for nine months, you don’t feel secure.”

Although the economy continues to sputter, Sunrise has been providing windows of opportunity for the unemployed, continuing to grow and add workers, partly due to its product quality, partly because homeowners are building equity through home improvements, and partly because federal tax incentives encourage the purchase of the energy-efficient window that Sunrise makes.

The business has recalled or added as many as 60 employees over the last few months due to growth, and expects to add 15 or 20 more by year’s end.

“It’s exciting to be able to support our customers’ needs as well as the greater southeastern Michigan and northwestern Ohio area, which has been heavily hit by a loss of manufacturing jobs,” said Gary Delman, Sunrise president. “We anticipate as we head toward the fall season, we will need to hire additional staff to support our manufacturing needs.”

The firm marked production of its 1.5 millionth window Monday with a ceremony that included U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Dearborn.

Rep. Dingell hailed the plant’s workers and Mr. Delman. “You are not only providing jobs for our people here, but you’re helping the whole economic recovery of the United States. You’re meeting a great and important public need,” Mr. Dingell said.

“In a year, we spend better than $70 billion in importing oil. What you’re doing here is having a real impact not only on the well-being of the country and its energy efficiency, but also on the national security of the country.”

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, qualifying energy efficient products bought between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010, are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the product cost, up to a maximum of $1,500 over the two years.

Sunrise windows have long exceeded the energy-efficient criteria stipulated in the federal tax incentives.

Mr. Dingell commended the firm for making products that exceeded the federal criteria and said he worked for legislation that would extend such credits.

“I think all of us in this building have an appreciation of the positive impact the tax credit program has had on our business,” Mr. Delman said.

“Obviously, if we can create some programs to help consumers make their homes energy efficient, that helps all of us in creating more jobs and creating some stability as we move forward.”

Sunrise now employs about 240 working on two 10-hour shifts, four days a week at its 105,000-square-foot plant at 200 Enterprise Dr. It supplies about a dozen different unique custom window products to more than 800 installers and distributors in 35 states.