Crystal Window & Door Systems has paused plans for its proposed $83.7 million manufacturing facility in Selma, North Carolina, citing a combination of economic, geopolitical and market-related challenges that have altered the business environment since the project was announced.

The New York-based manufacturer, headquartered in Flushing, had revealed plans in 2024 to establish a major production facility in Johnston County. The project was expected to create hundreds of jobs and serve as a strategic expansion of Crystal’s growing national manufacturing network, which already includes operations in California, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

According to company founder and chairperson Thomas Chen, Crystal originally intended to proceed with the investment but ultimately decided to suspend the project due to changing business conditions. In a statement to state officials, Chen pointed to a combination of unforeseen economic, business and geopolitical factors that influenced the decision.

The planned Selma facility would have focused on aluminum and vinyl extrusion as well as door and window fabrication. The site was also designed to include in-house finishing capabilities such as powder coating, allowing the company to further integrate its manufacturing processes and improve production efficiency.

Under the original agreement, Crystal committed to investing approximately $83 million by the end of 2028 while providing jobs with average annual wages exceeding $56,000. State economic projections estimated that the project would generate a positive return on public investment, with every dollar of potential state incentives expected to produce $1.81 in tax revenue.

Local economic development officials emphasized that no incentive funds had been distributed, as all grants associated with the project were performance-based and contingent upon Crystal meeting investment and employment targets.