Randy (left) and Allan Cheynowski, of Kingswood Millwork.

BUFFALO, NY

- Kingswood Millwork, a Wainfleet, ON woodworking company, has opened a U.S. operation in nearby Buffalo, NY. The custom wood door and window firm was selected as a subcontractor for a 400-window restoration project on the Corbin Building, a National Historic Register Building in New York City.

To qualify under buy-American requirements, the five-year-old company established Kingswood Historic Windows & Restoration Inc. in Buffalo, NY. At least one other U.S.-based millwork restoration firm was also competing for the work - Restoration & Preservation Enterprises, Kankakee, IL - but didn't win the contract. R&P Enterprises was featured on in Custom Woodworking Business magazine in February.

Kingswood Historic Windows & Restoration Inc. leased a plant and is hiring six local woodworkers to handle the volume. According to Buffalo Niagra Enterprise, a regional business development authority, Kingswood Millwork will invest $350,000 in equipment for the plant.

The Canadian parent Kingswood Millwork  performs restoration work on historic wood doors and windows. Selected as a sub-contractor by a firm that was awarded federal monies for the major restoration project in New York City meant they needed a U.S. presence. Kingswood Millwork also says it has also generally been growing its New York State area business volume.