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GFB
Manufacturing
Cadiz, KY
Client: George Radford
Center: Murray State University SBDC – Hopkinsville
Over ten years ago, George Radford and two partners formed GFB Manufacturing. Their plan was to assist businesses with their manufacturing. The idea: if businesses were on a tight deadline, they could avoid hiring temporary employees and improve efficiency by outsourcing part of their manufacturing to GFB Manufacturing. The men accepted their first contract in 1995 and began working from their homes. They quickly outgrew their home workspace and progressively moved from location to location as the need for a larger facility continued to increase.
George Radford was determined to find a permanent location so the business could continue to expand without continuing to move.
“To use the old cliché, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ we knew we could get the business, but we needed a place to work,” said Radford.
He began working with Mickey Johnson, District Director for Murray State University’s four Small Business Development Centers in Western Kentucky, on his expansion plans. From his previous experience with the SBDC program, Radford knew if he needed help the Small Business Development Center was the best place to start.
“George had foundered around and was shifted from one agency to another,” Johnson said. “I put his 504 application together and arranged for officials from Kentucky’s Economic Development Cabinet to visit with Radford to assess his needs and help him find the appropriate location.”
According to Radford, Mickey Johnson is being modest about his assistance.
“He [Johnson] just about paved the yellow brick road for us,” Radford said. “He understood where we were, what we had going on and where we needed to go. He headed us in the right direction,” Radford said.
Finally, in December of 2005, GFB manufacturing moved into a 12,000 square feet factory in a Trigg County industrial park. Since the move the company has added 20 employees and is currently negotiating a contract that would require the addition of 12-14 employees.
“I am excited that we are able to provide jobs for people in our community. We were looking at a list of our employees; some of them were not working prior to this and others left jobs at fast food companies to work here. It gets me really excited that we are providing jobs in the community,” Radford said.
GFB manufacturing recently received its ISO certification, but the business continues to look for ways to improve its operations. George Radford will be working with Mickey Johnson and a professor from Murray State University to outline business procedures that will improve organization and efficiency.
“We will be using the SBDC to review our policies and procedures. We are looking for any guidance we can get to confirm we are using the best practices in our operation,” Radford said.
Photo (L-R): SBDC Consultant Mickey Johnson and George Radford
