The White River Valley Herald

LEDdynamics Sets Up Shop

Firm Hopes New Space Will Allow Future Growth


Electrical design engineer Patrick Schlott tests an array of crimson-colored LEDs at the new headquarters of LEDdynamics off Beanville Road. (Herald / Dylan Kelley)

Electrical design engineer Patrick Schlott tests an array of crimson-colored LEDs at the new headquarters of LEDdynamics off Beanville Road. (Herald / Dylan Kelley)

With more than three years of planning, permitting, financing, and head-scratching behind it, LEDdynamics is making the big move from its former Hull Street location to a new, state-of-the-art facility off Beanville Road in Randolph.

The new location is a 27,000 square foot, energy-efficient building positioned behind Freedom Foods that was secured through a litany of grants, loans, and financing plans—including a $1 million community development block grant.

During a ground-breaking ceremony in May 2018, LEDdynamics was lauded by Gov. Phil Scott, Sen. Patrick Leahy, and Randolph Town Manager Adolfo Bailon for its unconventional decision to keep its headquarters— and commensurate jobs—in a community that had been plagued by a declining business sector in recent years.

“Vermont’s economic future will be determined by our ability to work together to help existing Vermont businesses grow and thrive here,” said Sen. Leahy one year ago. “Today, that future looks brighter because LEDdynamics is choosing to expand here in Randolph, rather than accept an offer to move out of state.” According to Bob Haynes, who serves as executive director of Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC), the new building is legally owned by GMEDC but will be leased to LEDdynamics, a setup that was helped along by $3.8 million in mortgage financing from the Vermont Economic Development Authority and local tax stabilization from the Town of Randolph.

Jeff Lumbra moves a rack of electrical equipment to its new home at the Beanville Road headquarters of LEDdynamics. (Herald / Dylan Kelley)

Jeff Lumbra moves a rack of electrical equipment to its new home at the Beanville Road headquarters of LEDdynamics. (Herald / Dylan Kelley)

“It’s been a concerted effort from a variety of people and agencies to help support it,” said Haynes, who described the project as “a real pleasure” to manage.

No Place Like Home

The move—from a section of the former Ethan Allen furniture mill that was infamous among the staff at the high-tech company for its lingering sawdust—fulfills LEDdynamics’ president and chief technical officer Bill McGrath’s wish to keep the high-end lighting firm in Randolph, despite lucrative offers to relocate to Connecticut and elsewhere according Haynes.

“When I met Bill, he was growing quickly and running out of space,” said Haynes. “He wanted to stay in Randolph—not at all costs, but his preference, by far, was to stay in Randolph.”

Founded in 2000, LEDdynamics had grown to 65 employees by the time the firm realized it was beginning to outgrow its Hull Street location.

As founder, McGrath has said previously that he hopes to nearly double that workforce to more than 100 employees once the construction on the new facility has been completed.

“We’d like to be able to expand and grow here,” he said in November, when construction was still underway. “We’re keeping the jobs in Randolph … we want to keep our headquarters here.”

As of press time, LEDdynamics and GMEDC are preparing to hold a celebratory ceremony Wednesday evening at the new facility alongside Gov. Phil Scott, who was present for the ground-breaking ceremony one year ago.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described Bill McGrath as founder of LEDdynamics. In fact, McGrath is president and chief technical officer. The text has been amended to reflect this.