(NECN: Anya Huneke, Milton, VT) - A new employer has moved into Milton, Vermont, creating new jobs for the area and life-saving equipment for the military. Today, local, state and federal officials attended the grand opening of AirBoss Defense.
When Quinten Forkas started looking for a job last year, he knew he was in for a challenge.
Quinten Forkas\Lead Hand, AirBoss Defense: "It definitely has been a tough market- in a college town especially... a business major, I have to go against 4-500 graduates each semester."
In the sluggish economy, many companies around Vermont were downsizing or closing.
But he heard about AirBoss-Defense-- a major supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense of protective gear for troops.
The company was expanding its operations to Milton, and looking to create, initially, 30 jobs that the town was more than happy to have.
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The 30 jobs are just the beginning, company officials predicted at the plant's grand opening Wednesday.
To fill the expected demand from the D.O.D., Airboss plans to triple production here in the next two years.
AirBoss has three other plants, two in Canada and one in the U.S. Expansions were considered at those sites... But Vermont, the company determined, offers some things the others don't.
Divisional president Earl Laurie points to the VEGI, or Vermont Employment Growth Program, as one of the main reasons Airboss chose this location. The program pays companies a portion of state tax revenue after a targeted number of jobs have been created.
Gov. Jim Douglas\(R) Vermont: "It's been somewhat controversial in the legislature, but here's a testament to the fact that it's an incentive that creates jobs and gets Vermont moving toward prosperity."
In this case, department of defense officials say, what's good for Vermont is good for the U.S. This safety equipment is widely used by the military for chemical warfare protection.
Will Hartzell\Joint Proj. Mgr., U.S. Dept. of Defense: "This company provides hand wear, protective gloves, boot covers that go over combat boots- pretty much for everyone in the military."
For Quinten Forkas, this is a job with a strong purpose and a strong future--
Quinten "I think the chance for growth is exciting."
Which, in this economy, he says he's thankful to have.
