Northern Neck Seamless Gutters, Inc., opened a branch office in early December on Route 17, across from Bill Hudgins Pontiac-GMC, south of the Gloucester village.

Owner Frederick Johnson said he bought the Irvington-based business four years ago and decided to open a Gloucester branch as part of his expansion plans. He now employs six people and plans to add several more in 2011 to support the enlarged service area.

Johnson sells galvanized and copper gutters, installing them along with special hangers and downspouts. He also sells leaf guards and offers gutter cleaning.

Also, the Gloucester office serves as a branch for two other businesses Johnson owns:

—Irvington Fence Company, which he started in 2007. That business employs three people and sells vinyl, chain-link and wood fencing, along with pool fences, and;

—The Mosquito Authority, a franchise of a mosquito control business he owns with Heather Tompkins of Kilmarnock. They started that business in the spr...