Gov. Robert Bentley said Tuesday’s trip to the KITH Companies operation in Haleyville is the kind of visit he loves to make.
“Most of our jobs come from local companies expanding like this, and I like making this kind of visit,” Bentley said while standing outside one of the company’s four plants in Haleyville’s North Industrial Park off Alabama 13.
Bentley, along with Jim Byard Jr., director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, got a quick tour of the KITH facilities and an inside look at its manufacturing process.
The two were joined by several local and state officials.
KITH Companies, which includes KITH Kitchens and KITH Furniture, are divisions of Door Component, headquartered in Haleyville.
The company recently participated in the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ Float Loan Program. The loan enabled the company to purchase new equipment, expand the business and create new jobs in the Haleyville area.
KITH Companies produces a line of residential kitchen cabinets and bedroom furniture. The operations consist of five plants and 260 employees.
Company officials said the kitchen cabinets are sold in 31 states. The bedroom furniture sells in 15 states.
The loan was to help the company create 70 new jobs.
“Instead, they created 118 new jobs,” Bentley said. “This is the kind of expansion that we are excited about happening.”
Company owner Bo Knight said the Float Loan Program had a positive influence in the decision process of expanding KITH Companies.
Knight said funds from the state loan were used to purchase new equipment for both facilities.
He expressed appreciation for Bentley, Byard and other state and local leaders who helped make the expansion possible.
“The state being able to help them on a low-interest float loan for a couple of years made all the difference in the world to that operation and where it is going,” state Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said. Bedford’s district includes Haleyville.
“They are putting out a good quality, American-made product using Alabama workers,” he added.
Bentley said more than 75 percent of all new jobs are created by expanding industries.
“That’s why we need to do all we can to help these businesses,” he said. “This is what we like to see around the state, and we want to continue to see more of this.”
Bedford agreed.
“This expansion is a great example of how local individuals can help grow jobs,” Bedford said. “It’s great to have big announcements on new operations coming in, but year in and year out, it’s the existing businesses that show the most growth.”
He also applauded Bentley’s efforts in bringing new jobs to the area.
“The governor has been very good for northwest Alabama,” Bedford said. “We’re glad we have a governor who knows where (northwest Alabama) is located.”
Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.