ACUSHNET – Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today presented family-owned J&R Plastics Inc. with the Governor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.

          The Acushnet-based company is the latest recipient to receive this award, which is presented monthly as part of Governor Mitt Romney’s “Jobs First” initiative. The award recognizes Bay State employers who best demonstrate the innovation that drives the Massachusetts economy and who successfully turn their ideas into action.

          “J&R Plastics represents the entrepreneurial spirit of Massachusetts,” said Healey. “What began as a family affair has blossomed into a vibrant company that now supplies some of our biggest-named companies. The desire of Joe and Randy Amarello to turn their idea into action and lay the foundation for starting a business is what this award is all about.”

          Founded in 2000, J&R Plastics is a thermoforming tooling manufacturer owned by brothers Randy and Joe Amarello Jr., who have 30 years of experience between them in the thermoforming industry. Thermoforming uses heat, vacuum and pressure to form a sheet of material, usually plastic, into particular shapes. This process is used to make such products as plastic trays for holding electronic components, medical instruments or cookies.

          “Since we opened our doors nearly five years ago, our company has witnessed increased customer demand and, with it, a need to expand our facility,” said J&R Plastics President Joe Amarello Jr. “We are committed to having a skilled workforce in Massachusetts who can manufacture high-quality thermoform tooling for the worldwide packaging industry. We thank the Romney Administration for their support and for recognizing us today.”

          The company, which now employs 15 individuals, designs and manufactures new forms for many national companies, including the plastic packaging and holders for Gillette razors. In June of this year, J&R opened a new facility in Acushnet that is four times the size of their original facility with the assistance of the Commonwealth’s Economic Development Incentive Program. The company has grown by more than 20 percent since opening in 2000.

          “Starting our business involved some risk taking,” said J&R Plastics Vice President and Treasurer Randy Amarello. “Every decision we made to get this far has taken some risk, but it has paid off for us thanks to hard work and perseverance. As a result, our company is growing and creating new jobs.”

          Previous recipients of the Governor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award include Reflectent Software of Westford; Innovative Marketing Resources of Leominster; Gorton’s Inc. of Gloucester; Rika Denshi America, Inc. of Attleboro; Veryfine Products of Littleton; Baril Die Company of Haverhill; Yankee Candle Company of South Deerfield; The Chamberlain Group of Great Barrington; Stacy’s Pita Chips of Randolph; Finale of Boston; ZipCar of Cambridge; and posthumously to Inc. Magazine founder Bernie Goldhirsh.

HEALEY HONORS ACUSHNET COMPANY WITH GOVERNOR’S AWARD

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