National Grid Hits a Home Run with MDBB Enterprises to Help Grow Operations from Home Garage to Industrial Space

Grants helps transform vacant building off Main Street into usable space for local company with international presence

CROGHAN, N.Y.–A hometown business that started with an idea for safer fencing at a local school baseball field and now operates internationally will continue to grow, thanks to a $50,000 eco-nomic development incentive from National Grid. The award, made possible through the company’s Main Street Revitalization Program, will help MDBB Enterprises offset construction costs associated with the renovation and energy efficiency upgrades at its headquarters on Bridge Street in Croghan.

The formerly vacant building today houses MDBB’s Grand Slam Safety manufacturing, sales and production teams, which design, manufacture and install sport fencing for baseball and softball outfields, field houses, tennis courts, soccer and lacrosse fields and more.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the expansion of a local business that truly started with an idea in a garage and has grown into a company with an international presence,” said Melanie Littlejohn, regional executive of National Grid Central New York Division. “National Grid is dedicated to the revitalization of business districts and commercial corridors in Northern New York, and through our Main Street Revitalization Program, we are pleased to support locally owned businesses like MDBB Enterprises and Grand Slam Safety that contribute to economic growth of the region.”

MDBB Enterprises business partners Bob Lyndaker, Bob Chamberlain, Mickey Lehman and Dave Moore purchased the 60,000-square-foot vacant production plant in January 2014 and immediately moved operations to the new location. Throughout 2014, the team invested more than $125,000 in the property to improve energy efficiency, including installation of new windows, doors and insulation and improvements to electrical and heating systems with the hope of reducing utility bills by more than $20,000 per year.

“The National Grid grant was critical to our ability to move forward with the project,” said Chamberlain, director of marketing at Grand Slam Safety. “All four of us are from the area and committed to help build our hometown economy and keep jobs local. Without National Grid’s help, we would not have been able to move into and transform a vacant building into what has now become the headquarters and operations center of Grand Slam Safety.”

What began in 2009 as an idea for safer fencing for a local baseball field in the Beaver River Central School District today has turned into a business that installs safety fences across the United States and maintains a presence in South Korea to promote the company’s fencing throughout Asia. MDBB Enterprises expects the new facility in Croghan to enable it to continue to grow and add jobs, as well as offer space for other local businesses.

Since the inception of National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization Program in 2003, the company has approved more than 140 projects totaling more than $5 million in matching grants across upstate New York. The program is designed to help communities promote “smart growth” and private-sector investment in central business districts and commercial corridors to improve their competitive viability, attract investment and capitalize on their distinct development potential.

Through National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization Program and suite of Shovel Ready economic development programs, MDBB Enterprises can grow, become more energy-efficient and offer expanded services. National Grid also provided MDBB Enterprises with a Manufacturing Productivity Program incentive to enable the company to participate in a Strategic Business Growth Program with CITEC Business Solutions, a regional technology development center at Clarkson University.

National Grid Economic Development staff work with municipalities, local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and private developers to identify eligible projects. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, please visit www.shovelready.com .