Bonne Terre company will begin production in September

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Friday, July 10, 2009
Updated: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:31 AM CDT

BONNE TERRE — The ammunition plant should be opening in the Bonne Terre Industrial Park soon.

SSA Acquisition, an ammunition supplier that will be doing business in Bonne Terre as US Armaments, was supposed to open in the Industrial Park in 2008. Opening has been put off because of litigation that is now settled.

Jim Hager said the company plans to start limited production by September.

Starting today, the Missouri Career Center will begin taking applications. The closest office is located at 403A Parkway Drive in the Park Hills Industrial Park.

All job openings will be posted online at http://www.missouricareersource.com

The first two or three openings are expected to be posted sometime this morning and include two production workers/laborers and a machinist/mechanic.

Devra Long, regional business representative at the Missouri Career Center in Park Hills said job seekers who are interested in applying for those posted job openings must apply in person at a Missouri Career Center. They must fill out the written application form in person and they may attach a resume, if one is available.

Hiring preference will be given to applicants who obtain a Missouri Career Readiness Certificate. Long said applicants can request the no-charge testing at the Career Center to obtain a Missouri Career Readiness Certificate. The testing process takes approximately three hours at the Career Center. Applicants can participate in pre-test training online if needed prior to sitting for the actual test. 

Applicants can contact the Park Hills Career Center by phone with questions at 573-454-2191. The Career Center is open for these services between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Long said US Armaments will interview for the first two or three job openings in August with the intent to hire before September.

“Interviewing will not begin until August to allow time for applicants to complete the Missouri Career Readiness Certificate testing process,” she said.

The plant’s intent is to hire 15 to 20 employees over the next few months. The plant is not disclosing any pay rates.

Those interested in future positions should register as a job seeker at http://www.missouricareersource.com and watch for newly posted job openings that will be posted over the next several months.

Eventually they will hire about 75 people, Hager said. But how much time elapses before that point depends on a lot of things, including the government and licensing, he said.

In late 2007, the St. Francois County Industrial Development Authority and the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission purchased a building in the Bonne Terre Industrial Park and leased it to an ammunition supplier.

Those two groups received a $500,000 Industrial Infrastructure Grant under the Community Development Block Grant program. The grant was needed for the acquisition, renovation, and expansion of the existing building. The city’s TIF plan was amended to include this project.

Bonne Terre Mayor Fritz Gower was excited when he heard news that the plant will be opening.

“It’s welcome, long-awaited news,” he said. “It will certainly be an asset to the community.”

He hopes they will employ a lot of local people. He said he will do everything he can to assist them.

City Manager Larry Barton was also excited to hear the news. “I can’t wait to talk to (Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission Executive Director) Chauncy Buchheit. I’m really excited,” he said.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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