Patriot Industries, Inc. is located in the cities of Monticello and Albany, two very rural communities in southern Kentucky. Monticello is located in Wayne County. Albany is located in Clinton County, which was recognized as an Empowerment Zone in 1996. Empowerment zones are designated to stimulate growth and economic development in poor, rural, underdeveloped communities across the country.
Patriot Industries offers four primary services: cutting and sewing, screen printing, manufacturing and warehousing. The company has used several SBA programs to help establish and grow the company. Jack Mills, President & CEO of Patriot Industries, realized that with the trend to ship operations offshore in the cut and sew industry, he would have to use all of the advantages of small business programs offered by SBA in order to retain and increase American jobs at American factories such as Patriot Industries.
The company was 8(a) certified in December 2000 and received its Small Disadvantaged Business certification at the same time. Patriot Industries received HUBZone certification in August 2001. Using these resources, the firm has won multiple contracts in 8(a), SBD, HUBZone and subcontracting opportunities. The company has grown from under 100 employees in 2000 to approximately 350 employees today.
Patriot Industries’ main manufacturing expertise is in the cutting and sewing of military products. Their labor force is experienced in sewing all weights and types of materials. Additionally, their screen printing capabilities use modern, high capacity equipment.
Patriot Industries is currently the major subcontractor for a government prime contractor. Patriot employees manufacture components for the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment system and the company has manufactured over five million components. Patriot is currently gearing up to manufacture the Improved Outer Tactical Vest.
Patriot also manufactures fire retardant clothing as a subcontractor. Additionally, they have manufactured, as the prime contractor, a fire retardant coverall for the Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia, PA, and athletic shorts and jerseys for the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The company’s success is derived from its strong leadership and dedicated team at Patriot Industries. In fact, the firm’s business philosophy is summed in into three key statements.
- Quality - Engineered and manufactured into the products
- On Time - Our team members know that late shipments mean unhappy customers.
- Value - We realize that cost effective manufacturing is essential to obtaining and keeping customers.
Additionally, Patriot is ISO 9001:2008 certified. In 2011, Patriot Industries was recognized as an SBA 100 company. The SBA 100 program features 100 businesses that have created at least 100 jobs since receiving SBA assistance.