Up To Date To Expand in East Baltimore

Up To Date Laundry Inc., Baltimore, recently announced plans to open a plant in East Baltimore. The new facility will accommodate business growth and provide additional capacity beyond the company’s existing plant in Southwest Baltimore. Up To Date, which marked its 70th anniversary earlier this year, is highlighting the expansion as providing local residents with environmentally friendly jobs.

“We chose this location to continue our commitment to Baltimore by providing jobs to areas that can benefit from additional employment opportunities and by building our facilities focusing on sustainability of the environment,” said Up To Date President Mark Carter. “We’re confident that we will be serving the healthcare community in the mid-Atlantic region for another 70 years.”

The new plant is expected to open in July 2017, according to a news release. It will operate in a 79,600-square-foot reconditioned manufacturing facility that can process up to 72 million lbs. of healthcare textiles annually. Located in a Maryland Certified Enterprise Zone, the new plant is expected to employ up to 400 people within five years. Up To Date currently is processing roughly 60 million lbs. per year and is one of the largest healthcare laundries on the Eastern Seaboard, the Oct. 27 release said.  

Founded in 1946, Up To Date began by servicing ships in Baltimore Harbor arriving from New York to Virginia. Since then, the business has grown and shifted its focus to processing textiles for healthcare providers across the region. The company’s recent growth in healthcare led to the decision to open a second plant, said CEO Nancy Stair-Carter. “When we relocated to our DeSoto Road facility in 1999, our hopes were to one day reach 40%-50% of its capacity,” she said. “Well, that ship has sailed, literally.”

Local officials praised Up To Date’s move to expand its operations, while contributing to area economic growth. The expansion helps advance the goals outlined in the city’s “One Baltimore” program that’s designed to bring jobs to East Baltimore. This initiative, cosponsored by Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, includes incentives aimed at boosting the local economy. “We congratulate Up To Date Laundry on their continued success and, specifically, on this expansion,” said William H. Cole, president and CEO of the BDC.

For its part, Up To Date is benefitting as well from One Baltimore program initiatives, Cole said. “In addition to BDC’s loan program, Up To Date Laundry was also able to take advantage of our façade improvement grant, which is now citywide. These programs exist to help businesses like Up To Date Laundry grow, thrive and create new jobs right here in Baltimore.” Click here for details.