EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — El Paso-based garment manufacturer ReadyOne Industries recently received two contracts totaling over $286 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue their work as a leading manufacturer of military apparel.
“The significance of this is it gives us the opportunity to provide consistent career opportunities for the El Paso community, and in particular the disabled community,” said Craig Wellons, president and chief operating officer of ReadyOne.
ReadyOne is one of the nation’s largest employers of people with disabilities, operating under the federal government’s Ability One program, which requires them to have 75% of their direct labor to be performed by people with disabilities, Wellons said.
The first of these contracts was awarded to ReadyOne in August, valued at $92.4 million. It will run through Aug. 14, 2029. Wellons said this contract will enable them to continue the production of advanced combat pants for the U.S. Army and to maintain a staff of nearly 100 employees.