The Poarch Band of Creek Indians on Tuesday announced that tribe-owned Muskogee Technology has started producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to assist in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Atmore-based Muskogee Technology delivered their first batch of PPE in the form of gowns on Monday, according to a release.

This came after Muskogee Technology president and CEO Westly L. Woodruff began working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upon learning of the shortage of PPE necessary to combat COVID-19.

In addition to saving lives by stepping up for frontline health care workers, Muskogee Technology is able to retain their 77 employees through this work.

“Muskogee Technology is always looking for new paths to help,” Woodruff said in a statement. “We are honored to serve and do what we can during this pandemic. I am proud we have the agility to refocus our equipment, workforce, and other vital resources critically needed to assist our healthcare communities during these trying times.”

The equipment will be provided to Baptist Health Care.

Baptist’s CEO and president Mark Faulkner said, “We are thankful Muskogee Technology can shift their production to gowns for our doctors, nurses and team members. COVID-19 has changed the health care landscape and as we work to provide care to our patients and others we serve, we are grateful this local company can partner with us in this way.”

RELATED: Poarch Band of Creek Indians donates $1 million to local hospital

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn