Ozark, company grow along with each other

Twelve new jobs at a growing company means $120,000 and an expanded water line for the city of Ozark.

Growth and expansion plans for Ozark Mountain Granite Company allowed the city of Ozark to receive a $120,000 industrial infrastructure grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The purpose of the grant is to assist local governments in the development of public infrastructure that allows industries to locate new facilities and expand existing ones.

With the addition of a new building, Ozark Mountain Granite also will add 12 new employees over the next two years to help with production and sales.

The grant to Ozark provides $10,000 per additional employee. The money is specifically designated to extend water service under Highway 65.

Engineering plans had been drawn up for water line expansion, but City Administrator Collin Quigley said the city still needed a way to fund the project. Then Ozark Mountain Granite announced its expansion, qualifying the city for the grant.

"It means a lot for the city of Ozark, obviously. We get the expansion and the additional jobs created by Ozark Mountain Granite. We're getting the water line under the highway, which will certainly be a benefit for the future, new businesses in the area or for the future expansion of our water system," Quigley said.

Business expansion

Ozark Mountain Granite has already broken ground for a 30,000-square-foot building on six acres of land south of the company's current location at 6546 U.S. Highway 65, off Christian County Highway CC. The new building will be located between Ozark Dodge and Sport Boats USA.

The company currently has a 15,000-square-foot facility, which has become crowded over the past seven years.

"My wife and I had to move into an old closet for an office because our sales staff was taking over our office, but we are managing and we have something to look forward to," said Denny Hush, who owns Ozark Mountain Granite with wife Jane.

The 260-by-250-foot building is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving, Hush said. Inside the new building will be a 6,500-square-foot showroom that will be one of the largest in Missouri, he added.

Three new employees have already been hired in anticipation of the completion of the new building. The company now has 20 employees.

Ozark Mountain Granite makes slab fabrications and granite fabrications, including counter tops, fireplaces, vanities, stone tiles and hardwood floors. The new location will allow the company to display a line of cabinets and sinks that the company currently does not have space to show.

Hush said he is thankful the city has worked with the company to allow for the expansion, and said the support assures him he is in the right place.

"What a great place to live; what a great place to do business. The city of Ozark has been very good to us as far as working with us on this project. I wouldn't live anywhere else," Hush said.