Preparations are continuing for the opening of Bainbridge Manufacturing, the company that will occupy the building where Traco formerly operated in the Decatur County Industrial Park. The company will manufacture air handling equipment for a variety of industries and end uses.
According to company Chief Executive Officer Abraham Levy, the company has dealt with several challenges with the building causing a delay in the original timeline of opening the business and hiring staff.
“We had some issues with the electrical systems in the building and with the roof,” explained Levy. “But we are on a path to correct those issues.”
The company will host a job fair on March 18 in Bainbridge, tentatively scheduled to be held at the Kirbo Center at Bainbridge State College. More details will be released when available concerning the job fair.
During the job fair, interested applicants will have the opportunity to learn about the different job functions that will be available when the company is fully operational.
“This will be an informational session, giving people a description of each job. Each job will be numbered and people can indicate on an application which job most interests them,” Levy said.
The company is waiting for several pieces of custom manufacturing equipment to be built, delivered and installed. However, the company will hire about five people in June to begin machining parts and components, building inventory until the first piece of equipment is installed.
Installation of the first piece of manufacturing equipment is scheduled for August and the company expects to hire 25 more people at that time. Employment will be increased by up to 30 people per year for the first three years of operation.
In May 2013, the Decatur County Commission voted to extend a 10-year property tax abatement to Bainbridge Manufacturing as incentive for the company to locate here. After the 10-year abatement, the company would begin paying 10 percent of what it would normally be assessed on its property tax bill. That amount would increase by ten percent every year until it reaches 100 percent in year 20 of operations.
The City of Bainbridge facilitated the $1.7 million purchase of the building in October of last year and Bainbridge Manufacturing will occupy the building at no cost. The city used a bond issue to finance the purchase of the building as well as a $300,000 Georgia Department of Economic Development grant.