Reed's Metals facility opening in Scott City

A new metal manufacturing and sales facility is opening in Scott City.

Reed's Metals, headquartered in Brookhaven, Mississippi, produces metal roofing and pre-engineered steel buildings.

The company has eight locations across the southern U.S. The forthcoming Scott City facility, which will be its ninth, is scheduled to open June 1.

The manufacturer is moving into the building formerly occupied by Macke Farm Equipment. According to Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., the 14,000 square-foot building sits on five acres off Interstate 55.

Bernie Reed, president and CEO of Reed's Metals, said he expects to hire four or five employees in the Scott City facility at first, but the need for workers will increase after the company settles in, as has been the case with his other facilities.

"In two to four years, it will be up to 30 or 35 people," Reed said.

The company is preparing the property for the June opening by expanding the existing facility to accommodate the necessary manufacturing machinery and making space to showcase its wares.

"We're going to put some nice demo buildings out there, fix up the showroom, add on to the building and start bringing our machines in," Reed said.

Reed said he spaces his stores four or five hours apart and always places them along the highway, which made his selected location attractive to him.

But he said there were other features that drew him to the region. The airport in particular was a draw.

"Airports are attractive to people. The people that are going to bring jobs to an area -- they're going to fly in," he said.

The proximity to a John Deere dealership also was a perk, Reed said.

"That's a big part of my market," he said.

Reed said he looks forward to becoming a part of the Southeast Missouri community and hopes to find success here.

"Creating jobs and making money: That's what life's all about," he said.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1616 E. Outer Road, Scott City, MO