An out-of-state maker of hair care products is planning to open a manufacturing facility and call center in the area and create 150 jobs.

Catawissa, Pennsylvania-based Function of Beauty said last month it signed a 12-year lease with Grand Rapids-based Visser Development to occupy a new building at 6610 Patterson Ave. SE in Caledonia Township, where it will open a production and call center.

Matt Williams, VP of operations at Function of Beauty, said the company chose Grand Rapids in order to tap into its manufacturing workforce.

“Function of Beauty is very excited to open a new facility in Grand Rapids and call this spectacular city home,” Williams said.

“A foundational part of our business’ success is in the quality of people we employ. As we conducted a search for a new location, Grand Rapids rose to the top due to its growing economy, the availability of skilled workers and quality of life.”

The company said the expansion will create more than 150 jobs within the next 12 months.

The call center will open first at the end of January, and production will go online in stages throughout the year.

Positions will include production, inspection, customer service and senior operational team leaders.

Drew Born and Jess Geers, of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids’ commercial division, was the broker on the $10.5-million lease transaction.

The Design Forum, based in Grand Rapids, was the architect on the project, and Visser Development was the contractor.

Function of Beauty

Founded in 2016 by Zahir Dossa, Josh Maciejewski and Hien Nguyen, Function of Beauty is a direct-to-consumer “customizable” hair care brand, including shampoo and conditioner.

The products are “vegan and cruelty-free” and do not contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, triclosan, mineral oils, formaldehyde or GMOs, the company said.

Function of Beauty has 170 employees at its locations in Pennsylvania and New York City.