Hometown Apparel & Screen Printing Growing, Adding Future Jobs in Ohio
Hometown Apparel & Screen Printing, located in Chillicothe, Ohio, announced that it’s expanding its operations. In collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and the Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development, the custom print provider will execute on its growth plans in Chillicothe, Ross County.
The company has been in business since 2016 and has retail locations on Main Street and at The Fort Collective in Chillicothe. According to a press release, about 60% of Hometown’s products are manufactured by third parties, but it has a goal to hit 100% through in-house expansion. That growth will include renovating 2,000 sq. ft. of its space in downtown Chillicothe as well as adding new automated equipment.
The company plans to invest $305,000 on the renovation and equipment additions. On top of that, it expects to add six new jobs over the course of three years.
“We feel very fortunate for the generous resources made available to us by JobsOhio, OhioSE, and the Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development,” said Ben Thomson, owner of Hometown Apparel & Screen Printing, in the press release. “We are excited to expand our operations in the heart of our beautiful community. This expansion will not only aid us in providing more employment opportunities but also will help us to continue serving our growing customer base.”
The press release states that JobsOhio supported the project with a $25,000 JobsOhio Inclusion Grant. OhioSE assisted the company with the grant process. The Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development Department will provide the company with connections to local service providers and training resources as it moves through the process.
Convergence in Action
In addition to this new chapter in Hometown’s history, the company is also a shining example of convergence in action. Alongside its apparel decorating services, the team also designs and prints business cards; helps with promotional products needs; and creates banners, signs, flyers, and posters. To top it off, it also creates company stores and assists with fundraising efforts.
Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, many decorators were already exploring additional growth opportunities beyond apparel. The pandemic accelerated the convergence trend at a rapid pace. While it’s not a good fit for every, it’s worth evaluating if it could benefit yours.