Taurus USA to open $22.5M manufacturing plant in Georgia

Gun maker Taurus USA announced Thursday an agreement with the state of Georgia to open a manufacturing facility in the Peach State. The $22.5 million investment will create 300 jobs in Bainbridge, a town located near the Florida border and about 40 miles from Tallahassee.

State officials celebrated the agreement and state Gov. Nathan Deal praised the “business-friendly climate” they created for attracting the company.

“With this investment, Taurus USA is highlighting some of the economic development assets available in the Bainbridge area, while also creating meaningful employment opportunities for the community,” Deal said. “We welcome Taurus USA to Georgia, and we look forward to seeing how our highly skilled workforce will help the company grow and maintain its competitive edge.”

Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, called the move “not only a win for the community, but for the region.” He added that in addition to the “thriving pro-business environment,” that Taurus will benefit from the “unmatched logistics network.”

According to federal data, Taurus, which also owns brands Rossi and Heritage, is one of the largest handgun makers in the country and manufactured approximately 130,000 firearms in 2016. The company will join other industry heavyweights in Georgia like Glock Inc in Smyrna and Daniel Defense in Black Creek.

Taurus chief executive and president David Blenker described the plan as part of a long-term growth strategy. “The ability to expand operations is critical for our U.S. business. This new facility will meet our demanding needs to increase production with the skilled workforce Georgia has to offer,” he said.

The new 200,000-square-foot facility will offer 180,000 square-feet manufacturing space and 20,000 square feet of administrative space. The company will hire new staff, including laborers, admin, customer service and management. Construction will begin in September 2018.

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