New Business in Town
June 29, 2011 CT

Production began Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at G and S Services, a company which refurbishes large metal containers for a variety of uses.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

The company relocated from the Nashville, Tennessee, area to a recently vacated 17,500 square-foot building at 415 Harvestor Road in Chillicothe. Company owners Steve and Gina Hasty said Chillicothe was the ideal location for their business because it is the midway point between the company's two main shipping destinations: Fort Riley, Kansas, and Rock Island, Illinois.

The containers are large, and operating out of a central location greatly reduces freight costs, said Steve Hasty, company co-president. G and S Services contracts solely with the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense and the DEA. The containers have multiple uses, and can be used for storage and housing for military troops.

The Hastys already have employed a foreman and anticipate an employee roster of 16 individuals from the local area in the near future. They hope a total of 35 will be employed by year's end. The Hastys said they are looking mostly for welders.

The building is owned by Butch and Judi Shaffer of Chillicothe, and most recently was occupied by Pepsi-Cola Bottling.

The business announcement was formally made during a luncheon Tuesday afternoon at the Chillicothe Country Club. Local economic developer Terry Rumery welcomed those in attendance and expressed appreciation to the Shaffer's for the hospitality they extended to the Hastys and for having the available building. "I hope Chillicothe is receptive and supportive of this company," Rumery said. "We hope they are here for a long time." He also made note of the positive impression the community had on the Hastys when they were considering relocation. "It feels really great to be here," Hasty said to the group of around 30 individuals. "With the hospitality we felt here, we knew this was the place to be. We hope you will see G and S Services grow in this community."

The business was formed in 2005.