Ox Bodies Inc., a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 11 that the company will be opening an operation in High Point that will create at least 40 jobs and increase the tax base by a minimum of $2 million.

Company officials said this week that Ox Bodies expects to begin its High Point operations in October 2019.

High Point leaders have been hoping to get the project for a while: The company had been scoping out East Coast locations earlier this year. It chose High Point after considering spots in four other counties in North Carolina and one county in South Carolina.

At an April 15 meeting of the High Point City Council, the council voted to authorize up to $87,600 in performance-based incentives for the Ox Bodies expansion project if High Point was selected.

In the press release, Henry Bell, Ox Bodies president and general manager, stated that he’s glad High Point will be home to the new operation.

“Our company has been growing impressively, and we are pleased we can continue our expansion in High Point,” Bell said. “We have found a building that meets our immediate and future needs, a central East Coast location that can easily serve our customers there, and a city government and business community that have warmly welcomed us. We view this expansion as the next step in what will become our model to be located closer to the markets we serve.”

Founded in 1972 and based in Fayette, Alabama, Ox Bodies manufacturers dump truck bodies and truck equipment.

The company has signed a lease for 45,000 square feet of space in the 218,570-square foot, multi-tenant facility at 2100 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Suite 101, High Point.

At the new location, Ox Bodies will paint dump truck bodies and install those bodies on the chassis provided by the clients. It will also provide parts and service for other commercial truck accessories. The company will also have mobile service capability.

According to plans, 15 jobs will be created in the first year of operations, with an annual average wage of $49,000.

High Point has had a quite remarkable run over the last five years when it comes to bringing in new business. As could be expected, Loren Hill, the president of the High Point Economic Development Corporation, was delighted with the news.

“Ox Bodies’ announcement is exciting for High Point in many ways,” Hill stated in the Wednesday press release. “An impressive manufacturing company will be opening operations here and employing our residents. In addition, the former Hatteras Yachts building has been greatly underutilized for many, many years. Bringing more activity and jobs to that building and the surrounding neighborhood is great news for High Point.”

The company will hold an employment fair on Wednesday, Sept. 19 for those interested in working at Ox Bodies’ High Point facility. For more details, jobseekers can contact NCWorks Career Center at 607 Idol Street in High Point at 336-882-4141.

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