W.W. Grainger Inc. operates 23 locations throughout the tri-state area, and plans to increase that by 25 percent. The company also said it will increase its local workforce by 10 percent to 20 percent, and its local distribution network by 40 percent.

The company has said the market expansion initiative will help it better serve customers by adding people, products and sales outlets nationwide.

“We’re doing exactly what our customers asked us to do,” Mike Hade, regional branch services vice president for Grainger said in a statement. “Our customers told us they wanted more of the products they need to maintain, repair and operate their facilities, positioned closer to them, and we listened.”

The Chicago-based company said it expects to invest $50 million to $80 million in its market expansion program this year, including the tri-state project. To date, Grainger has expanded its presence in 20 markets across the country, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, South Florida, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Grainger has expanded its product offering as well. The company launched an enhanced catalog earlier this year that features more than 138,000 facilities maintenance products—23,000 more items than last year’s offering. The new items include more than 7,000 plumbing products; 4,000 material handling supplies; 5,000 fasteners; and 1,600 security products.