Polo adds employees; celebrates job creation

Polo Custom Products of Louisville celebrated its continued growth Thursday, July 15.

The company recently met its job creation goal of 160 jobs in Louisville. The job creation goal was tied to a Capital Access Program loan gained through the Mississippi Department of Development, City of Louisville, Winston County and Winston Economic Development Partnership. With the CAP loan and other help, Polo updated equipment and moved to the new building at 907 West Main Street in late 2008. The city and county purchased the building and upgraded the facility using Mississippi Rural Impact Funds and Community Block Development funds gained through the Mississippi Development Authority.

"We have done everything we could have done," said David Mills about the growing of the company. "This was a big project and glad to be finalizing a portion of it," said Mills.

The company has grown from its small roots in the community in 2000 when it employed 22 people and presently employees 161. The company had 145 employees at its Feb. 2009 ribbon cutting for the new building and recently added 16 employees to reach the 161 stage and plans to continue to grow in the area.

"We will be here and hope to continue to grow," added Mills of Polo's commitment to the county and state.

Mills noted the company has plans to hire 4 to 10 more employees and hopes to continue to build on its success.

Local leaders greeted the continued growth of the company as a positive sign in the community.

"It is great to see all the cars in the parking lot and people working," said President of the Winston County Board of Supervisors Jerry Estes.

"We are proud of Polo and all they have done," added Will Hill, Mayor of Louisville.

Winston County Economic Development Director Gerald Mills thanked all the business and government entities that helped make the project complete.

"The city and county really came together to help make this project work," said Phyllis Benson of the Golden Triangle Planning Development District who headed up apply for the CAP loan for the project.

According to Mills, the City of Louisville, Winston County, MDA, GTPDD, ECCC, and WCEDP all played a role in helping get Polo to this point of growth and success.

"If the recession had started two to three months earlier (in 2008) this project may never had happened," said Mills. "No one would have taken the risk."

Polo's product of success

While the new building and loans for equipment helped spur the growth of Polo, Michael Anne Smith Administrative Assistant to Mills noted that is was the employees who helped customize Polo's success.

"Each person has a role and a team for each product," said Smith.

The company takes the raw materials to custom embroidery, cutting, screen-printing and a final product based upon a divergent assembly line plan according to Smith. Employees bring in a ton of raw materials and ship out high quality customized safety, medical, outdoor, recreational and industrial items each day noted Smith. She explained the bottom line is the specialization and customization that Polo offers each client big or small.

"Everything is so customized," said Smith explaining that they always aim to meet the customers' specific needs and why that has created a successful and growing business.

"Plus, we do little to major jobs," she added.

The company has over 75 main clients with many specialized products.

Smith also explained the company has many opportunities for the employees to improve their lives from an exercise room on premises to bonuses for attendance.

"We are always doing something," said Smith about improving the work atmosphere.

Smith noted the company is also very pleased with the Federal STEPS program in the county, which has helped bring in 20 workers and give them skills and job training.

"It is a great program," said Smith.