Vivo Brothers to Establish Plant in Columbiana

POLAND, Ohio – Vivo Brothers Inc., a company that specializes in architectural millwork and custom cabinetry, plans to renovate and move into a new manufacturing plant in Columbiana to complement its existing operations at 8420 South Ave., the company says.

“We started the process about a year ago,” said Vince Vivo, general manager, who along with his brother Nick owns the business. “We can only add on a small amount here, and we were out of space,” he said. “We found this building in Columbiana.”

The company wants to separate its custom cabinetry and fixtures division from its standard business, Vivo said. The expansion includes purchasing new equipment and renovation of an existing 23,000-square-foot facility, he said.

“Last year, we re-did the entire Cleveland Browns Stadium and it was a nightmare because of the space here,” he noted. “This will give us a lot more efficiency.”

The company designs, delivers and installs custom cabinetry and countertops for commercial and retail businesses.

Among Vivo Brothers’ projects are the display cases for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ six Super Bowl trophies, the Equarium at Eastwood Mall, and architectural casework for Salem Regional Medical Center, First Place Bank and the Andrews Student Wellness Center at Youngstown State University.

The company plans to move into the building at 1387 Columbiana-Lisbon Road by late March or early April, Vivo said. Global-Pak, a packaging solutions-company, is moving out of the building and relocating to another site near Elkton.

The entire project should cost just under $1.1 million, Vivo reported. The project was helped with funding from the Ohio Grows program, which allocated a $400,000 low-interest loan toward the purchase of new equipment.

State Rep. John Boccieri, D-59 Poland, announced Monday that Vivo Brothers was awarded $333,000 in state funds through Ohio’s Regional 166 Loan Program, which will provide some of financing to refurbish the plant.

Vivo Brothers has pledged to create eight jobs as a result and retain 28 more. Sixteen of the retained positions will be part of the operations in Columbiana.

“Companies like Vivo Brothers Inc. that hire, train and employ skilled workers help support the local economy and drive our state in a positive direction,” Boccieri said in a statement. “Local businesses form the bedrock of our communities by putting people to work, and it is critical that we support them at the state level.”

Vivo says these state programs have helped the company from its start in 1999, when it was located in the basement of State Chevrolet along Wick Avenue in Youngstown. Ohio’s economic development programs, along with city efforts such as the Youngstown Initiative, were instrumental in the company’s growth, he says.

“They’ve been key in our company’s history in being able to grow,” Vivo said.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.