One company making big strides this week in terms of capital investment and employment is Mid South Extrusion, a plastics company in Monroe, Louisiana. The company is investing $17 million in two new production lines to keep up with increasing consumer demand for its products, which range from traditional plastic bags to heavy-duty plastic wrap for industrial components. This investment will add 21 new well-paying jobs and bring Mid South Extrusion’s employee count to over 200 workers, helping expand the company’s ability to create customized plastic film and sheeting options.
Currently, the company has 14 separate production lines spread out over 350,000 square feet of factory space. The two new lines are expected to join them by August 2025, expanding the firm’s output and benefiting its customers. Established in 1986 with only four employees, Mid South Extrusion has grown to a current employee count of 189. According to its website, the company is actively seeking additional workers! Additionally, the company is dedicated to being eco-friendly and ensuring its materials are fully recyclable, creating wins for both the pro-labor and pro-environment movements.
Plastic Sheeting and Film Important for Virtually All Commerce
While many Americans may not think that plastic sheeting is a major industry, consider that virtually all commerce needs to be safely packaged and secured for transportation on its way to market. What keeps hundreds or thousands of individual products collected and insulated from bumps and shakes? Plastic film. For heavier objects, sturdy plastic sheeting can keep it contained and hold it in place during transport.
Many goods also need to be stored safely for long periods of time, requiring high-quality plastic films or sheets to protect them from the elements and contamination. In this vein, plastic sheeting can also be used to cover portions of an item during spraying, preventing overspray. Equipment and areas that get painted, like automobiles and houses, also need plastic sheeting. A ready supply of plastic film and sheeting keeps commerce rolling smoothly.
Small, Family-Owned Businesses Can Become Major Employers
Mid South Extrusion is far from the only small, family-owned business that has become a major employer in the United States. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, several huge corporations today actually began as small, family-owned businesses. Retailing giant Walmart, with stores in all states, began as a small store in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 1962, run by Sam Walton. Major fast food chain Chick-fil-A, established in 1946, was also an individual affair started by S. Truett Cathy. Ford Motor Company, started by entrepreneur Henry Ford, became an automotive giant in the 1920s with the invention of the famous Model T. Finally, computer giant Dell began in a college dorm room in 1984 created by student Michael Dell.
Collectively, Ford and Walmart employ almost 2.5 million workers, with another 140,000 at Chick-Fil A and 120,000 at Dell Technologies. Therefore, even firms that start from humble beginnings can have a major impact on the American labor market. While a $17 million capital investment may not seem like much in the grand scheme of the U.S. economy, it could herald the start of bigger moves down the road!
Image credit: Mid South Extrusion
