Mike Genova, the owner of Spokane-based hot tub accessory maker Leisure Concepts Inc., plans to construct an industrial building near that companys current facility in Hillyard and plans to start a plastic injection-molding company there.


Genova says the new company will be called Leisure Plastics Inc. and will handle projects both for Leisure Concepts and for other manufacturers.


Well consume about 30 to 40 percent of our potential capacity, he says. We have some others who have expressed an interest.


Plans call for the industrial building to include between 35,000 and 40,000 square feet of floor space and to be located in the north 5300 block of Florida Street, just south of two 25,000-square-foot buildings that Leisure Concepts occupies. Florida Street is one block west of Havana Street.


Total cost of the project is expected to be about $5 million, including the cost of the injection-molding equipment.


Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the design-build contractor on the project. Genova says construction of the building is scheduled to start in October, and the facility is expected to be completed in February.


Leisure Plastics will employ between six and 12 people. Leisure Concepts currently has about 30 workers, Genova says.


He says he decided to start an injection-molding business due to the strong growth that Leisure Concepts has experienced in recent years. Our growth outpaces our supplier, he says.


He declines to disclose Leisure Concepts annual revenues, but he says that in recent years the companys sales have increased by between 20 percent and 30 percent a year. That growth has occurred, he asserts, even though the spa industry as a whole has reported declining sales in recent years.


Leisure Concepts makes a variety of products for use in and around hot tubs. They include hot tub cover-removal systems, steps, drink trays, and hand rails, among other products.


Contact Linn Parish at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at linnp@spokanejournal.com.