The County of Brant celebrated the opening of Iarocci Boulevard in Paris on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
This new road, which was a recommendation from the County of Brant’s Transportation Master Plan, will improve transportation in the area and support both local industry and the community.
“Iarocci Boulevard represents a significant investment in our community,” said David Bailey, Mayor for the County of Brant. “And its opening marks an exciting new chapter of economic growth and development for the area.”
The piece of land that the new boulevard was built on, located between Consolidated Drive and Green Lane in Paris, was provided by Tigercat to create a new municipal road, and holds the name of former Tigercat President Tony Iarocci.
Iarocci was the first employee of Tigercat when it began in 1992 and played a pivotal role in bringing the company to Paris. Iarocci has been involved in the forest industry for the bulk of his long career, including over twenty years in engineering and management at Koehring Waterous in Brantford, a manufacturer of pulp mill equipment and forestry machines. He led Tigercat from 1992 to 2017, overseeing a period of incredible growth, worldwide market expansion, and a steadily increasing product line.
“Tigercat is in the process of building a new facility at 141 Consolidated Drive, Paris,” said Iarocci. “The building will be approximately 276,000 square feet, which will accommodate additional manufacturing capacity for the existing Tigercat operation and will create more than 400 new jobs. Manufacturing in the new building is expected to begin in the fall of 2025. I thought it was significant to have the prototype 726 here. This machine created a strong foundation for the company and paved the way for many additional models and the associated expansion of the company, including the new facility here in Paris. Needless to say, none of this would exist without owner Ken MacDonald’s hard work, impeccable business ethics and utmost care for all members of the Tigercat team, customers, dealers, and other business partners.”
A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new road was held on Wednesday. Most fitting for the inaugural drive down the new road was the first Tigercat machine that was ever produced, the prototype 726 feller buncher. The machine was gifted to Tigercat by the original owner in 2017 and refurbished as part of the company’s 25-year anniversary celebrations.
In attendance at the ceremony were Tigercat founder and President Ken MacDonald, former President and current Director Tony Iarocci, former President and current Director Grant Somerville and two of Tigercat’s earliest employees Martin Jennings Vice President of Supply Chain and Tim Koniuch Assembly Supervisor. Also in attendance from the community were County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, County of Brant General Manager of Development Services Pam Duesling and General Manager of Operations Rob Walton.
“We are very thankful to have Tigercat in Brant,” said Mayor Bailey. “Apart from the employment opportunities and positive economic impact that a business of this size creates, they are also a wonderful community partner who understand the importance of giving back.”
