Stitch and Print, Inc. to open here
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Tamra Hadden, seated, President of Stitch and Print, Inc., signs a lease with the Jenkins County Development Authority that will bring 25 new jobs to Jenkins County. Standing, left to right, are Ray Landing, who will be the local plant manager; Paula Herrington, JCDA executive director; and Mabel Jenkins, JCDA chairman. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

Millen and Jenkins County will soon get 25 new jobs. The Jenkins County Development Authority (JCDA) announced Tuesday that Stitch and Print, Inc. of Twin City will open a division of its sewing facility in the former Augusta Sportswear building located on East Winthrope Avenue.

Initial employment is expected to be approximately 25 persons, said Tamra Hadden, president of Stitch and Print.

"We hope to expand, but we've got to crawl before we can walk. We also know that there is an excellent opportunity for expansion with the labor force that is available here," she said.

The Millen facility will manufacture jogging shorts for the military with Jenkins County resident Ray Landing as plant manager.

In making the announcement, Mabel Jenkins, JCDA chairman, credited Paula Herrington, JCDA executive director, with much of the success in securing this industry for Jenkins County.

"Paula has worked really hard on this, and she has been the driving force behind it," Jenkins said.

Herrington noted that the project had been a year in the making and that Stitch and Print had been receptive to the idea of locating in Millen and Jenkins County from her first contact with them.

"We are excited to be a part of Jenkins County," said Ms. Hadden as she signed a two-year lease on the building. The lease is renewable at the end of the two years.

Information on when and where job applications will be taken will be released at a later date.