Officials updated on possible plant expansion By Russell Hood The Webster Progress-Times Local elected officials received an update this week on the possible expansion of a manufacturer in Eupora. Cynthia Wilson, executive director of the Webster County Development Council, met Monday with the Webster County Board of Supervisors and Eupora Board of Aldermen concerning Ansell Hawkeye. The military glove supplier's manufacturing plants include a city-owned building on East Roane Avenue. The company, according to discussions at previous meetings of both boards, may move its knitting operations from Mexico to the United States. If this is done, local plant officials hope the move will be made here, Wilson has said. However, the existing plant is not large enough to accommodate such an expansion and the vacant Garan building on Highway 9 South is being considered as a possible site for relocation. Two Ansell Hawkeye officials, Mayor Tommy Lott, two county supervisors and Wilson have toured the building. Wilson said Monday that she planned to contact Ansell Hawkeye management "and see if they definitely want to go forward with this," then contact Calvert-Spradling to request that an engineer also go through the building. The latter is necessary so the engineering firm can prepare a renovation cost estimate before application is made for a grant or grants to help fund the work if the move is made. Wilson said grant opportunities would be based on the number of additional jobs created, which she estimated would be about 40. Wilson has asked the local entities to enter into an interlocal agreement to split grant administration costs. After her presentation Monday night, the Board of Aldermen authorized the mayor to enter into and negotiate an interlocal agreement for grant expenses with the Board of Supervisors on a 50-50 basis. Supervisors have said they are not opposed to such a grant application being made.