Kimber Finally Turns Southwardhttps://www.captainsjournal.com/2020/10/26/kimber-finally-turns-southward/Many times I’ve asked to know why firearms manufacturers would continue to do business in states that hate their business, fleece them with taxes, and force them to deal with collective bargaining. I’ve specifically mentioned Kimber, among other manufacturers.
It appears that Kimber finally figured it out.
Kimber Manufacturing, a company that makes a variety of firearms and ammunition, is transitioning its corporate headquarters from New York to its facility in Troy, Alabama.
The decision to change the location of the company’s headquarters was first announced last week, and much of the work has already been completed.
A release from the company notes that “leadership, R&D and manufacturing resources†are now in place at the 225,000 square-foot facility in Troy.
It's relatively easy for a single dude living in an apartment to pack up a small U-Haul trailer and hit the Interstate to move to another state. BTDTGTTS. It's a whole 'nother thing for a company with hundreds or a few thousand skilled and experienced employees to move a large piece of their operations to another state. One of my previous employers decided to close their operation that had been on the SF Peninsula since the 1930s and move part of it to Orange County and the rest to Pennsylvania. They hoped to retain 80% of their people, but I suspect they lost way more than 50% (Been There, Didn't Do That, Didn't Get The T-Shirt). My former employer did have a reasonable reason for pulling up stakes. Bay Area housing prices made recruiting new college grads impossible.
Similarly, I'm sure Kimber has good reason(s) for making their move, but it won't be painless.
