A manufacturer of promotional products is relocating from New York City to the Lehigh Valley, creating 80 new jobs over the next three years.

Royal Industries International, Inc., which currently operated out of Brooklyn, will purchase an 85,000 square-foot facility in Allentown, a relocation project that was assisted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

“We are very thankful that Royal Industries has chosen to call the Lehigh Valley its home,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC President & CEO.

“This project was aided by the remarkable collaborative efforts of several Lehigh Valley organizations, including LVEDC, the city of Allentown, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce,” Cunningham said. “Economic development doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and while these organizations have always worked closely together, the level of collaboration in this instance has been truly exemplary.”

Royal Industries is investing at least $3.73 million into the project, including the building acquisition, renovations, and the purchase of equipment and furniture, according to Mike Rudensky, who owns Royal Industries along with his brothers.

“I feel like the city of Allentown really wanted us,” Rudensky said. “The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Governor’s Action Team made us feel very welcome, and I look forward to working with everyone in the future as we move forward with this project.”

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, the economic development arm of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, in collaboration with LVEDC. The Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (DCED) announced the relocation on Friday.

“This move from Royal isn’t just a big win for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley – it’s a big win for Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “When companies choose to relocate here to Pennsylvania from another state, it shows that we have the business climate that enables companies large and small look for when they plan to grow thrive. I applaud Royal for their decision to come here, and on behalf of the commonwealth, I welcome them to Pennsylvania.”

A family company, Royal Industries was founded almost 50 years ago by Eli Rudensky, and is now managed by three of his sons. From its humble beginnings in an old Brooklyn warehouse making “Howdy Doody” wallets, it now manufactures more than 250 quality stock and custom products.

The company’s products are used for business promotional purposes, consisting of items like document bags, travel accessories, school supplies, first aid supplies, bags, writing pads, calendars, certificate holders, checkbook holders, and memo books.

Royal Industries had operated in Brooklyn since its inception, but decided to move to the Lehigh Valley for efficiency reasons, and due to the needs for more space to accommodate additional production resulting from recent company acquisitions.

Royal Industries a low-interest $1.825 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan from the state, as well as $63,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits and a $27,000 WEDnet grant for job training, according to the DCED.

The PIDA program, considered by many lenders to be Pennsylvania’s flagship economic development lending program, offers low-interest loans and lines of credit to eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs.