Brunswick County-based Tri-Tech Forensics is slated to become the second tenant at the International Commerce Center, a spec building development within a regional megasite, according to a news release.

The company has signed a lease for nearly 33,500 square feet in the new center, located at the more than 1,000-acre International Logistics Park, officials with Cameron Management and Brunswick Business & Industry Development (BID) announced Monday.

Tri-Tech Forensics assembles packaging kits for forensic evidence collection and tactical emergency medical kits.

The company plans early next year to occupy the International Commerce Center space, a move that will allow the business to expand, said Jim Seidel, CEO of Tri-Tech, on Monday. 

“We were very pleased to find a location that met our long-term goals of remaining in Brunswick County,” Seidel said in the release. “Many of our employees reside in Brunswick County, so remaining here – from an employee retention standpoint – was very important for our business.”

Tri-Tech is looking to expand the production and fulfillment portions of the business with the move, he said. The company will move operations from its current location at 8770 Trade St. in the Leland Innovation Park, but will keep its warehouse off U.S. 74/76.

The new space will also allow the company the ability to set up a cleanroom, a space free from dust and other contaminants.

“We don't have the space today to put up a cleanroom. So … once we put that cleanroom in we expect our business to expand quite a bit,” Seidel said.

The company currently employs about 90 people and 30 temporary workers, he said.

With the new space and expansion, Seidel said he expects future hires because of the addition of the cleanroom.

“We’re really going to have the same type of operation. We’ve added employees just because we have been growing organically for seven years. So, we will add positions because we continue to grow organically. But adding that cleanroom could lead to quite a few more jobs for us," Seidel said. "We will be able to offer new products that we just haven’t been able to offer so far.” 

While a cleanroom is not required for manufacturing in many segments, the capability of the cleanroom will allow Tri-Tech to serve more of its market.

"There’s quite a few medical devices that do require cleanroom assembly to manufacture, so we will now have that capability to expand our business," Seidel said.

The company’s rescue essentials division, which also will be housed at the new site, has provided tactical emergency medical solutions and custom-built trauma kits to government agencies, private businesses and individuals since 2007, stated the release.

Tri-Tech is the second tenant to sign a lease for the International Commerce Center, an $8.5 million facility under development by Cameron Management.

Precision Swiss Products Inc. plans to move its headquarters to the International Commerce Center, bringing 125 new jobs.

With the Tri-Tech Forensics' space and the 60,000 square feet for Precision Swiss Products, the building is now 60% leased, said Bryan Greene, a broker with Cameron Management.

Currently, 66,960 square feet remains in phase 1 of the International Commerce Center. The developer has plans to build up to 300,000 square feet, depending on market demand.

“Demand has been exceptionally strong as of late, so we are hopeful we can have another joint announcement soon," Greene said in the release.

The International Logistics Park is a certified, shovel-ready industrial megasitew with 1,040 acres. It has a Tier 1 status and is situated in a Qualified Opportunity Zone, stated the release.

“The importance of having the International Logistics Park cannot be emphasized enough regarding the impact this park will have on our economic development efforts ....​With respect to our recruiting efforts, it is critical that we recognize the importance of job retention to keep companies like Tri-Tech here while we also work to recruit new companies to our area such as Precision Swiss, the California aerospace company, relocating to the International Commerce Center," Bill Early, executive director of Brunswick BID, said in the release.

Brunswick and Columbus counties, Cameron Management and Windsor Commercial have been working together to bring the new class-A facility to the megasite. The industrial site sits near the Brunswick and Columbus county line.

“Although the International Commerce Center building is located in the Brunswick County portion of the park, we recognize the importance of Columbus County contributing in a cooperative and meaningful way to the entire park as both counties benefit from these announcements," Gary Lanier, executive director of the Columbus County Economic Development Commission, said in the release.