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Lion Apparel And SEKRI Team Up To Secure Jobs, Promote Growth

Lion Apparel, Inc. secured jobs for its Williamsburg, Ky. employees in an agreement signed Friday May 20 with Southeast Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries (SEKRI). In addition to buying the physical assets in the southern Whitley County facility, SEKRI will retain the clothing manufacturing center's most important asset: its 85 employees. The employees will keep their jobs in the needletrades at the same location, and serve an integral role in the non-profit organization's mission of helping people with disabilities successfully obtain and maintain competitive employment. The rewards will be expanded within the southern Kentucky community with the creation of up to 100 additional jobs at the Williamsburg plant over the next eighteen months.

"This is a real success story for everyone involved," says Tom Fields, SEKRI Executive Director. "We're in the business of improving the quality of peoples' lives. Since 75% of our workforce is disabled, we were excited when Lion approached us about the Williamsburg facility. They have a highly skilled staff and state-of-the-art, automated equipment-two absolute essentials for our workforce and for our customers."

"We are thrilled with SEKRI's commitment to grow its business with the Lion team in Williamsburg," says Steve Allison, Senior Vice President, Lion Apparel Protective Systems Group. "SEKRI and Lion worked extremely well as a team to make this wonderful opportunity happen for Williamsburg. It's astonishing how two groups committed to operational excellence in their respective industries can collaborate to deliver so many solutions."

Lion Apparel opened the Williamsburg facility in 1959 to manufacture occupational clothing for various industries. Sharply rising costs in the manufacture of goods(particularly those made from expensive, certifiable materials) caused Lion to consider alternate production sources in order to remain competitive in its small niche market providing uniforms for firefighters. "Our Williamsburg employees are the best in the industry and they've contributed so much to Lion Apparel's success. So our first priority was job placement for each and every one of them," says Steve Schwartz, President of Lion Apparel, and a fourth generation family member and whose grandfather opened the facility. "With our long term relationship and mutual trust with the people of Williamsburg, and our strong core belief in responsible corporate citizenship, we could not just walk away from this facility. We are very happy for their future."

"I want to thank SEKRI and Lion Apparel for their cooperative work to save the Williamsburg facility and its 85 jobs," says District 5 Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY). "Lion could have just shut the doors and moved on, but they did not. They searched for a new, innovative arrangement that would save jobs for the community. SEKRI is to be congratulated for its leadership in expanding its operations into the Williamsburg plant. This is truly a win/win situation for SEKRI, the employees, and southeastern Kentucky."

Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries (SEKRI) is a non-profit organization who provides qualified personnel, facilities and related services for persons with disabilities, enabling them to obtain and to be successful in maintaining competitive employment. Established in 1971, SEKRI is a major participant in special programs including: Welfare to Work, Work Release, Workforce Investment Act and various other state vocational rehabilitation programs. Based in Corbin, Ky., SEKRI operates eight manufacturing centers including its new Williamsburg facility.

About Lion Apparel Inc.

Lion Apparel Inc. is a 107-year-old, privately held global company based in Dayton Ohio, USA. Through offices in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Australia, Lion serves the uniform and personal protective equipment (PPE) and logistics requirements of police and fire departments, civilian government agencies, emergency services, and military organizations around the world. Each and every day, Lion fulfills the personal safety, readiness and identity needs of its customers around the world

     
   Vice President, Marketing Services
   Lion Apparel
   Dayton,    OH,    45414
   USA
   937-415-2926 (phone)