New industry plans January opening

BONNE TERRE — SSA Acquisition won’t start operations in the Bonne Terre Industrial Park for another few months.

On Wednesday, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Chauncy Buchheit said the company is planning to be in production by the end of January. Previously, they had hoped to open up a month earlier.

“I don’t believe they have started taking applications yet,” he said of the military supplier.

City Manager Larry Barton said SSA has hired two people to set up equipment. “I have received lots of calls from people interested in jobs,” Barton said.

He said the company has voiced interest in getting five more tracts of land in the Industrial Park.

The St. Francois County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission officially became the owners of the building in the Bonne Terre Industrial Park in October. SSA Acquisition, an ammunition supplier, has signed a lease with them.

The building had originally been owned by the Mahurins but was sold to Sargent Construction, the builder.

SSA is expected to create $1.5 million in private investment and 50 new, full-time, quality jobs within two years in Bonne Terre. Officials hope it could bring in 50 more jobs after that.

In August, the two groups received a $500,000 Industrial Infrastructure Grant under the Community Development Block Grant program. The grant was needed for the acquisition, renovation, and expansion of the existing building.

Buchheit said the grant and being included in the city’s TIF plan was important to enable them to offer SSA a reasonable lease.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.