The Hayes Companies Announces Expansion Of Central Louisiana Manufacturing Site

PINEVILLE, La. —Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal and The Hayes Companies CEO James Hayes Jr. announced the company will invest $3 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Pineville. The company will create 75 new direct jobs through the expansion, with an average salary of $45,200 per year, plus benefits. LED estimates the project will result in another 89 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 160 new jobs in Louisiana’s Central Region. The company also expects the project to result in up to 100 estimated construction jobs.

The 60,000-square-foot expansion in Rapides Parish will provide additional space for metal fabrication for Hayes Manufacturing, one of three divisions that comprise The Hayes Companies. The investment will also fund state-of-the-art equipment to meet the demands of some of the company’s largest clients, including Union Tank Car, OneSubsea and GE Energy.

Gov. Jindal said, “The Hayes Companies has a long history in Louisiana, and we’re proud that the company officials decided to re-invest in our state. This Hayes Manufacturing project is just one example on a long list of projects that have come to fruition as a result of our world-class infrastructure, skilled workforce and competitive business climate. Hayes joins many companies who continue to invest in our state and create jobs for our people because of our strong business climate and growing economy.”

In addition to Hayes Manufacturing, the other two divisions of The Hayes Companies are Hayes Crane Services and Hayes Industrial Services. The Hayes Companies provide various metal-fabrication services, including machining, surface preparation and painting, general plant maintenance, plant turnaround services, crane services, plasma cutting, light hauling and storage.

“Louisiana has a very good workforce along with a state government that is very business friendly, and Central Louisiana is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Hayes, the company CEO. “Hayes Manufacturing Company has been here for 60 years supporting our local industries with metal fabrication work. In order to keep up with this growth, we have decided on a major expansion that will keep Hayes Manufacturing in a position to service new industries and continue servicing our existing customers with the quality work that we are known for.”

Founded in 1954 by James Hayes Sr., Hayes Manufacturing began as a small steel fabrication company. Today, the company features the latest in metalworking equipment and a full fleet of cranes. The new expansion will increase the square footage of the Hayes facility’s fabrication space by more than 50 percent. With the growth, Hayes Companies has become a leader in the Central Louisiana business community. In 2012, James Hayes Jr. was named the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Person of the Year.

LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group, or BERG, began working with Hayes on the project in September 2013. To secure the project, Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a $500,000 loan from the state’s Economic Development Loan Program that is forgivable if the company meets its performance targets. The company also will receive the comprehensive services of LED FastStart^® – the nation’s No. 1-ranked state workforce training program. Hayes Manufacturing also is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“Congratulations to the Hayes family. In my 14 years as mayor, I have developed a great appreciation for what is truly a ‘home grown’ success story, and I am proud to have one of the finest steel fabricators in the Louisiana here in Pineville,” said Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields. “Since 1954, Hayes Manufacturing has been a huge part of our community and we look forward to their continued growth and success.”

Hayes Manufacturing will begin construction on the new facility in December 2013, with an expected completion date in the fourth quarter of 2014. Hiring already has begun and will be completed by the end of 2015. Commercial operations will begin in the new facility by December 2014.

“It’s especially exciting for us when we see growth in our locally owned manufacturing base,” said President and CEO Jim Clinton of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Hayes Manufacturing is a great success story for Pineville and the region, and they will be providing still more good-paying jobs for our people. This expansion is another example of the renaissance of American manufacturing that is taking place in Central Louisiana.”

About The Hayes Companies
Founded in 1954, The Hayes Companies family of businesses has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers in the South. Headquartered in Pineville, La., the company now features three divisions: Hayes Manufacturing, Hayes Crane Services and Hayes Industrial Services. The company takes great pride in remaining a family-owned business with a family-friendly atmosphere. By providing the utmost in quality with an emphasis on safety, timely delivery and low pricing, Hayes proves its commitment to the highest level of customer satisfaction. For more information, visit thehayescompanies.com.