Medical products maker to add 110 jobs in Houston County

DOTHAN, Alabama — Global Resources International and its Advanced Products Solutions subsidiary announced plans to add 100 workers at the APS medical manufacturing center in Dothan and to expand in the nearby community of Columbia with 10 new jobs.

The growth project come less than two years after GRI announced plans for the APS facility in Dothan, which produces personal protective equipment, engineered fabrics and injection-molded medical products. The $9.5 million investment was projected to create 70 jobs.

The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce said the hiring wave at the Dothan facility will permit APS to enhance the focus on its medical product line, with a concentration on human and animal health markets.

In Columbia, APS will invest over $1.8 million in an operation that largely focuses on sterilizing medical products, according to the Chamber.

Global Resources International and its Advanced Products Solutions subsidiary announced plans today to add 110 workers at operations in Dothan and Columbia in Houston County, Alabama. (Image: GRI-APS)

Mark Fellows, vice president at GRI-APS, said the additional 110 jobs in Houston County will ramp up over the next 90 days.

“These growth plans by Global Resources International and Advanced Product Solutions represent a significant development for the Wiregrass region,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“This expansion will enhance the domestic production of critically needed products for customers in Alabama and the nation, while also solidifying the GRI-APS presence in the Wiregrass.”

GROWTH PLANS

In a joint statement, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver welcomed the continued investment by GRI-APS and said they have been “incredible examples of community business partners.”

Columbia Mayor Cas Haddock said the GRI-APS project is a “breath of fresh air” to the community of 800 residents in Houston County.

“We are grateful they chose Columbia, Alabama, for this sophisticated operation,” he added.

GRI, headquartered in Flowery Branch, Georgia, is a privately held manufacturing and supply company specializing in the design, manufacture, sterilization and distribution of products for the health care, industrial and animal care markets.

A long-time GRI subsidiary, Ashland, Alabama-based Eastern Technologies Inc. produces protective gear for workers in industries including nuclear power, chemicals and defense. (Learn more about ETI’s efforts early in the pandemic.)

A broad partnership of state and local agencies supported the project. On the state level, these include the Governor’s Office; the Alabama Department of Commerce; AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency; and Southeast AlabamaWorks.

The City of Dothan, Houston County Commission, Town of Columbia, Dothan’s Industrial Development Board and the Dothan Chamber/Grow Dothan development team also backed the project, as did Dothan Utilities, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and Southeast Gas.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)