Steve Mahanes, plant manager of AHF (formerly Armstrong Hardwood Flooring), addressed Bradley County Economic Development Corp. board of directors Monday.
He said he began working at the Warren plant about four years ago as maintenance manager. He has spent the last 10 months as plant manager.
The company builds 25 million square feet of flooring per year, using 300 varieties of hardwood. Home Depot and Lowe’s are among their major distributors.
The local plant is currently about 30 positions short, although it offers sign-up and referral bonuses. It has a $10 million annual payroll.
A third shift was added after furloughs during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic caused some workers to have to work longer shifts.
Ricky Rodriguez, environmental quality manager, also attended the meeting.
In other action:
- Accountant Bob Milton gave the financial report, showing about $17,000 in the membership account, $940,000 in total assets and a $548 loss for the month. He said an agreement with LaSalle Corrections was still pending as paperwork hadn’t been completed.
- Board Chairman Dr. Bob Smalling said Mayor Denisa Pennington and himself had met with AHF officials. He said he also met with an industrial prospect who was “very promising, very transparent. There are things happening.”
- A meeting will be held next week with Entergy Arkansas about site certification for the Griggs Property to be listed on the Entergy industrial website. “Certification means everything is ready for a prospect,” Pennington said.
- A motion was approved to pay $294.87 in property taxes for the Binns Property.
- Pennington said the shooting range expansion needs dry weather but she expected completion by June for a pistol and rifle range. Hermitage and Warren skeet teams have used other facilities at the range for practices.
- Smalling said a survey behind the chip mill had been done for leases pending with Sorrells Co. and Scott Richardson. The leases should be ready for final approval by next month, although BCEDC will skip the May meeting.
- Smalling said land acquisitions are still being explored. “One hundred acres is now the standard and we don’t have 100 acres anywhere,” he said.
- Approval was given to spend $200 for a Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival sign at the courthouse square and $100 for sponsorship in the program for the Warren Lions Club Gospel Jamboree.
- Smalling announced the Arkansas Optometric Association had presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Top photo: Steve Mahanes, AHF plant manager, speaks to Bradley County Economic Development Corp. board members Monday night. Seated, from left, are accountant Bob Milton, Chairman Dr. Bob Smalling and board member Kelly Ashcraft. Photo by Tim Kessler.