BATESVILLE, Miss. (AP) - A maker of public safety uniforms and protective wear will relocate in north Mississippi, investing $2.4 million and hiring 125 people.
Boston-based Blauer Manufacturing Co. currently employs about 150 people in Oxford, but says demand for its products is increasing. The company customizes uniforms and gear for police and fire agencies at its Mississippi operation.
It will move operations to Batesville, adding jobs over three years. The company announced in August it had bought the former Batesville Casket building, which President Michael Blauer said will give the company visibility from Interstate 55. The casket maker closed there in 2017.
Mississippi Development Authority spokeswoman Tammy Craft said the state is giving Blauer $500,000 for building renovations and $300,000 for workforce training. The private Panola Partnership is giving Blauer an unspecified amount per job to cover startup costs.
Panola County and Batesville plan to reduce property taxes for 10 years though the value of that tax break isn’t yet known.
The company, owned by the Blauer family, isn’t saying how much employees earn. Workers in Oxford can transfer to the new operation in Batesville when it opens next summer, according to the comopany.
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