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PDC adding a new building
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Construction crew members work on the new Precision Drive & Control electrical contracting division building, which will hold employee offices for engineers, clerical and bookkeeping staff and is set to be finished by the end of the year. (Times photo: Marissa Weiher)
MONROE - A new building which will serve as a multifaceted location for Precision Drive & Control Inc. in the city of Monroe has been scheduled to be finished by the end of this year.

The 13,000-square-foot structure along 5th Avenue, just yards from the company's store on 11th Street, will serve as home to the PDC Electrical Contractors Division and will host a slew of contractors, superintendents and project managers. In addition to providing services through the electrical engineers located there, the company has plans to put in place both business offices and space for clerical staff from every division. An engineering department, which will build custom control panels for clients, has been slated for expansion with the addition of the new building.

Construction of the building began in late June with workers who have remained on schedule, PDC CEO Steve Jacobson said.

The idea to build a new structure was not immediate. Initially, plans included simply updating the former water department building, but as plans became more advanced and grew from initial renovation outlines formulated in 2013, it was decided the land use for a new building would be better suited for the company as well as the city.

"We considered renovating the older building, however, we will get a lot more square footage for considerably less money doing it this way," Jacobson said. "We felt it would add value to the community a little more and serve our needs better."

PDC was started in 1976 - soon to celebrate 40 years of operation - and grew from an electrical motor repair business into electrical contracting and distribution of electric and industrial materials; from there it added control automation and specialization in equipment used in the food industry, such as cheese factories.

The business has expanded into Freeport since its inception as well. It boasts the addition of 20 jobs in the past two years, and the electrical contractor division headed by Gene Jacobson has already put eight positions in place in anticipation of the new building.

Steve Jacobson shared his optimism at seeing the possibilities brought to the company through the construction and has been proud to oversee what he views as a positive step with the addition of the building.

The current repair shop and store will remain unchanged. The target date for estimated completion of the new building is November, with finishing touches scheduled for no later than the end of 2015.