One of the world's largest gunmakers brings jobs to South Georgia

Taurus, a Brazil-based company, announced plans last year to open its new U.S. headquarters in Decatur County, Ga. The company plans to hire 300 workers.

Credit: TERRY HARRIS

Credit: TERRY HARRIS

Taurus, a Brazil-based company, announced plans last year to open its new U.S. headquarters in Decatur County, Ga. The company plans to hire 300 workers.

Construction on a new manufacturing facility for one of the world's largest gunmakers is ahead of schedule in Bainbridge. Once completed, it is expected to bring 300 new jobs to the Southwest Georgia community.

Taurus, owned by Brazil-based Forjas Taurus SA, announced plans last year to open the Taurus Manufacturing Plant and National Headquarters in Decatur County.

Drawn to Georgia by the state's favorable gun laws, Taurus began construction on the facility in summer 2018, but its development was delayed as Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm, blew through the region later in the year.

Earlier this month Taurus began packing up its Miami Lakes plant in Florida, where it had been since 1982. The new facility in Bainbridge will be regulated and monitored by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and expects to produce somewhere between 6,000 to 8,000 new firearms per week, officials said.

The local economy is already seeing a positive impact as many of Taurus' Florida employees have relocated to the area, according to the Bainbridge and Decatur County’s Development Authority.

An official ribbon cutting for the plant is planned Dec. 5.