Listen to the article
(ANNAPOLIS, MD – May 10, 2024) – Governor Moore attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the Conair Distribution Center in Hagerstown. First announced in October 2023, the facility is Conair’s largest distribution center in the Mid-Atlantic region and will bring 700 jobs to Maryland’s economy within 10 years—another example of the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to making Maryland more competitive.
“I tell everyone in the country that Maryland is the best place to grow or start a business, and today reaffirms our commitment to make it even better,” said Gov. Moore. “I want to thank Conair for believing in Maryland and choosing to invest and hire in our state. Together, we are making Maryland more competitive – and we are ready to lead, grow, and win this decade.”
Governor Moore was joined at the ceremony by Conair Chief Executive Officer Kristie Juster, GXO Logistics President Americas and Asia Pacific Jorge Guanter, Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson, and county and local elected officials.
The facility will help increase the amount of commerce that flows through the Port of Baltimore by about 600 containers per month — reinforcing the importance of the Port of Baltimore to Maryland’s economy. The state contributed a $2 million conditional loan and Washington County contributed a $200,000 conditional loan to the project.
“We are thrilled that Conair chose Maryland for this facility, with a perfect location for distribution at the nexus of two major interstate highways, I-70 and I-81,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “With hundreds of new jobs anticipated in the coming years, this center is great news for Washington County, great news for the state of Maryland, and a big win for Conair.”
The 2.1 million square foot Conair distribution center is the largest in the state, with 378 dock positions and more than 850,000 square feet of racking space to accommodate more than 180,000 pallets. The facility will include “cobot” technology that will work alongside employees and improve overall efficiency, and 83 pieces of material handling equipment to aid in the efficient picking and transportation of Conair’s diverse product range.
“Conair is grateful to have partnered with the state of Maryland and GXO to open this impressive facility. Its proximity to the Port of Baltimore, the primary gateway for this distribution center, will help ensure reliable and expedited service,” Conair Chief Executive Officer Kristie Juster. “Today’s event with Governor Moore is just the beginning of an exciting opportunity to grow jobs, support the Hagerstown community, and better serve our customers. We’re excited to continue this successful partnership and build upon the great work underway at the facility.”
“We are proud to expand our partnership with Conair with a brand new facility, strategically located in the mid-Atlantic region to serve customers up and down the eastern seaboard helping fuel Conair’s future growth,” said GXO Americas and Asia Pacific President Jorge Guanter. “Together, we will bring new jobs to the community and deliver a great customer experience. We’re also pleased that the distribution center’s proximity to major consumer markets will eliminate 4.7 million transportation miles, reducing Conair’s CO2 emissions from distribution operations by approximately 2,100 metric tons annually.”
