e-Edition

Flagstaff Weather

Comments?

Rate this story

Email this story

Print this story

'Green' cabinets going national

By CHRIS COPLAN
Sun Staff Reporter
Sunday, April 06, 2008

Flagstaff Cabinet Co. has made custom kitchen cabinets and other wooden decor for the last 20 years.

But co-owner Chuck Rathert said that, like all businesses, the company is seeking to boost business and gain national exposure. The state-funded Arizona Job Training Program has awarded the company a $316,000 grant to begin training new and existing employees for the challenge of taking their green cabinet building to the rest of the state and country.

Another Flagstaff winner of the grant is Agassiz Landscape Group, which was awarded $5,500.

Rathert said he obtained the grant by first meeting with an employer services specialist, who instructed the company about the grant-writing process and how the funds can be used.

"This is a fairly lengthy project," Rathert said. "You need a clear understanding of what is going on. This grant helps offset employment costs and will pay a certain percentage of employee wages for training."

Rathert believes his cabinets are ready to be sold on a national level.

"What makes these cabinets great is that they are formaldehyde-free," Rathert said. "The stains and glues are water-based, as are the paints. But the most important thing is they're recyclable because all that stuff's water-based."

The shop is heavily computerized, despite employing old-school craftsmanship standards. Katrina Smith, one of the two employees responsible for drafting the grant proposal, said much of the training is centered on computers.

"We're going to be training both new and existing employees in the 20/20 design program," Smith said. "That is our layout or CAD (computer-aided-design) program to help pick shapes and styles. Employees will also learn about the new catalog and the online ordering system."

Smith said that in all, 14 of the company's 35 employees will receive training, with another 41 new trainees to be brought in over the next two years.

Despite the expected increase, Rathert said he does not plan to have to expand the workshop and showroom at 495 S. River Run Road. If necessary they can create a second eight-hour shift.

"Cabinets are not going to get made by themselves," Smith said. "This grant will let us train and get things done more quickly."

Speed can be an issue in the cabinet-making business, as Rathert said training employees on the workings of manufacturing and distribution can be a full-time job in and of itself. He added that one machine, which cuts pre-designated designs and shapes into wood, can take six months to master.

Funding for the grant comes from a state Job Training Tax that began in 2001. Businesses must either pay one-tenth of 1 percent of an employee's first $7,000 in wages or $7 per year, whichever amount is lowest. As of Jan. 1, there was $52 million in the job training grant pool.

While hoping for national success, Rathert said because of the shaky economy, he could not guess how much manufacturing and production would have to increase to meet necessary goals for expansion. Instead, employees of Flagstaff Cabinet Co. will continue to be dedicated to not only prospering but giving the customer what they want.

"Not a lot of people know what we do with green cabinets," Smith said. "We want to give them more options to lead an eco-friendly life."

Contact Chris Coplan at 556-2256 or chris.coplan@azdailysun.com.

---

»Subscribe to the Arizona Daily Sun

---

---

---

---

Print this story

Email this story

Return to Business