Spa maker moving to NLV

Jennifer Shubinski

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 | 10:51 a.m.

An international manufacturer of spas is moving its manufacturing and distribution plant from California to North Las Vegas.

After almost two decades in California, May Manufacturing LLC, doing business as Artesian Spas, a manufacturer of acrylic whirlpool hydrotherapy spas, is moving its plant from Victorville to North Las Vegas. The company is owned by four partners in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Artesian Spas wholesales its products to authorized Artesian spa dealerships across the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

Company President George Hendricks said Southern Nevada was chosen over Arizona, which the company considered, because of its favorable business climate, family-friendly community and employee base.

"It's pretty obvious why we're leaving there -- the state of California is just upside down," he said. "Whatever you've written is why we're leaving."

Many businesses have left California for Nevada and other states for reasons such as high workers' compensation costs and expensive state-mandated employee benefits.

Panattoni Development Co. will begin construction on a 100,000-square-foot building in August for the company at the Lamb Business Center, a planned 343,125-square-foot business park at Lamb Boulevard and Lone Mountain, just north of Craig Road. The building will be leased with an option to purchase, said Jason Kuckler, local Panattoni development manager.

Hendricks said 42 people will be moving with the company to North Las Vegas. He said during the busy season, spring and into summer, the company will employ 170 people through local temp agencies. Many of those jobs may turn into permanent positions, he said.

Hendricks said the company can take advantage of Southern Nevada's location because many trucks leave the area empty, which will in turn help dealers lower shipping costs.

The valley also was chosen because of its airport and its attraction to clients, Hendricks said.

"(Las Vegas) is a great place for our customers," he said. "When you say it's in Los Angeles or Victorville, dealers go flat and say, 'God do I have to get into that mess?' Las Vegas has direct flights into it from all over the world, and when we have a dealer meeting, or they want to see our new product, they just climb on that airplane."

The Nevada Development Authority has helped Hendricks file for tax incentives and tax credits, Hendricks said. The exact amount of incentives was not available.

Hendricks said in his research he found Nevada's tax incentives were smaller when compared with other states'. He also said that houses were a bit "pricey." But he said the area's growth, community, school system, employee base and lack of a large manufacturing base were all reasons to relocate the manufacturing component of the company to North Las Vegas.

"The economics of it is what made sense along with the family environment," he said.

Hendricks said the company has doubled its size twice in the past four years, and he expects to continue growing in North Las Vegas.