Posted on Mar 17, 2005

A Union College graduate will open a corporate headquarters in Schenectady's downtown for his baseball footwear distribution and sales business.


James Mann, 41, will use a $125,000 low-interest loan from the Metroplex Development Authority to improve the building at 309 Union St. and support 3N2's relocation.


The company is located in temporary quarters at 1338 Union St. Mann launched 3N2 – which stands for a full count in baseball – in 2001 in Newton, Mass. Before that, he worked for Nike and Stride Rite.


The privately held company manufactures baseball and softball shoe products and accessories for professional, college, high school and youth league play. It has distributors in eight states and two foreign countries.


The company had gross sales of between $350,000 and $500,000 in 2004, Mann said. Its goal is to capture 2 percent of the $5 billion sports apparel market, he said.


Mann will bring two employees to the 309 Union St. site and hopes to add eight more within the next year. The jobs will be in management and labor. “Down the line,” he said, “we will bring in manufacturing of other products, but not footwear.”


Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said Mann had considered placing 3N2's corporate headquarters in several other cities before settling on Schenectady. “Some of his partners wanted to locate to a more metropolitan area,” Gillen said.


Mann said he selected Schenectady because of his strong ties to the area.


“One of my ideas was to bring it back home. I see Schenectady coming back again and I want to be a part of that,” Mann said, speaking by phone from Arizona. He is there conducting sales meetings with Chicago White Sox team officials and other Major League Baseball officials.


Mayor Brian U. Stratton said Mann's decision to stay in Schenectady “is a sign of the renewed confidence and faith” in the city. “It's a key building and spreads more of our redevelopment between downtown and Little Italy.”


The building at 309 Union St. is vacant and requires extensive renovation, Gillen said. “It's perfect for them. It has offices and warehouse space,” he said.


Mann has a long-term lease on the site.