The worldwide leader in fire hose manufacturing announced an expansion plan Tuesday that it said will lead to at least 20 new jobs in the area within the next two years and at least 10 in the next few months.
KFH Industries, which produces fire hoses and ships them around this and other countries, consolidated its operations in Dothan in 2010 after beginning in the Miami area in the late 1980s.
“Dothan is a friendly, well-run town, and they want you,” said Charlie Genthner, president of the company, which currently employs 170 people. “Our fire hoses go around the world. We’ve added five looms already, and we’ll hire at least 20 people in the next two years.”
A loom is a device used to weave the protective jacket of the fire hose.
Burke Genthner, a KFH officer, said the expansion is beginning immediately.
“Right now we’re doing some replacing and putting in some new looms, so we’re going to hire for that,” he said. “We’re expanding 20 more looms over the next three months or so and a loom operator for each one, so we’re probably looking at at least 10 jobs over the next three or four months. We hire on multiple shifts.”
State Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, said the expansion is good news for the Wiregrass and the realization of years of effort from former Dothan mayor Pat Thomas.
“This project’s code name was Project Thomas.,” Lee said. “It’s grown to 170 employees, and there’s some great potential for even more expansion.”
Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said announcements such as expansions of KFH and Panhandle Converters are encouraging to city and county officials.
“We’re going to get spoiled making all these announcements,” he said. “(Mayor Mike Schmitz) and I share the main goal to provide opportunities for our citizens. We’ve got to continue to create those opportunities.”
KFH operates in locations on Columbia Highway and Third Avenue.
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