Nichiha USA has confirmed its compliance with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This legislation requires any infrastructure project funded by any Federal Financial Assistance (FFA) apply a domestic content procurement process. This means that all iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials used in an infrastructure project must be produced in the United States.
BABA requires that the product must be manufactured in the United States and that the cost of the components of the product that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States be greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components of the product. An extensive audit by Nichiha determined that the cladding company’s production, manufacturing, packaging, and related operations are compliant with the directive.
“Nichiha continues to be deeply committed to manufacturing the most resilient, durable building envelope solutions right here in the United States, ones that also drive head-turning aesthetics,” said Vance Thomas, director of warranty technical services at Nichiha. “Our hardworking employees, first-class facilities, and penchant for products of the highest quality all embody the spirit of American craftsmanship.”
The news comes on the heels of the company’s two Georgia-based manufacturing facilities each securing environmental product declarations (EPDs) from the International EPD System, the highest standard for third-party vetted sustainability efforts. The brand’s Plant #2 facility, which manufactures Nichiha architectural wall panels (AWP), and the Plant #1 facility, which produces NichiProducts, are vital for domestic operations, employing nearly 600 Americans.
“The BABA compliance, our EPD achievements, and our continued investments in our Georgia facilities underscore our ongoing commitment to transparent, domestic manufacturing.” added Thomas.
The certification reaffirms the brand’s commitment to the middle Georgia economy. Previous efforts include a $150 million investment into their Macon facility, which created 100 new jobs for the region in 2022, and a $120 million facility expansion in Macon-Bibb County in 2018.
