Eagle-New Bedford Secures Additional $9.3 Million for DoD Contract

New Funding Ensures Continued Job Stability and Growth at New Bedford Facility

NEW BEDFORD, Mass., March 6 /PRNewswire/ – Eagle Industries today announced an additional $9.3 Million in Department of Defense (DoD) contract funding for the Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system that is manufactured at the company’s New Bedford location. Notably, the Department of Defense and the Massachusetts political delegation, including Congressman Barney Frank and Senator Ted Kennedy, worked together with Eagle to ensure that these additional contract funds were released quickly.

The MOLLE system is a military backpack and vest system used by U.S. soldiers to carry mission-critical equipment, including personal protection gear, such as body armor. Eagle is one of the premier suppliers of the MOLLE system and the company has been manufacturing this vital gear out of New Bedford since taking ownership of the facility in November 2007. Eagle has aggressively competed for new contracts and this latest award helps ensure stability and a steady flow of work for their 350 employees.

“Congressman Frank’s and Senator Kennedy’s roles in working with the Department of Defense to ensure the expedient allocation of this funding was instrumental. We are fortunate in New Bedford to have a Congressman and Senator so dedicated to ensuring continued jobs and growth in the community, and it’s an honor to work with the DoD to meet the needs of our soldiers,” said Eagle Executive Vice-President Scott Carver. “It is a great source of pride for Eagle that despite these challenging economic times, we have been able to keep work coming in the door for our employees in New Bedford. Our extremely capable workforce ensures that the gear we produce for our men and women in uniform continues to be second to none. This award is testament to their hard work.”

“I am pleased I was able to assist in expediting the disbursal of these funds for Eagle’s DoD contract and I will continue to do everything I can to keep jobs in New Bedford,” said Congressman Barney Frank.

Eagle’s continued growth in New Bedford recently allowed the company to provide pay raises to the entire workforce and to increase vacation time for any employee who has worked at the facility for two years. The company is also extremely pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the New Bedford Half Marathon taking place Sunday, March 15th.

Eagle’s long history of success in providing mission-critical, soldier-tested and approved gear, developed and manufactured in the United States has enabled the company to grow and expand their breadth of work in the highly competitive DoD contracting industry. Over the company’s thirty years of operation, Eagle has designed, manufactured and delivered top-notch, 100 percent U.S.-made gear to every service branch within the DoD.

“We are really pleased to be in a position to help grow the local economy and give back to the community,” said Carver. “Our U.S. service members deserve the very best and our New Bedford workers continue to provide it.”

About Eagle Industries

Eagle Industries is a world leader in tactical nylon gear for the military and law enforcement community. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Eagle Industries began its business in 1974 in the founder’s basement and was incorporated in 1982. Today, Eagle Industries employs more than 2,300 people worldwide and manufactures and distributes more than 5,000 products. Eagle Industries continues to abide by its “Quality By Design” guiding principle and remains a family-owned and managed company. For more information, visit www.eagleindustries.com.

SOURCE Eagle Industries