A boat manufacturing plant that closed in Bolivar in 2009 will reopen and add more than 130 employees within its first year. Officials with White River Marine Group, the manufacturing arm of Bass Pro Shops, announced Wednesday the plant would reopen because of strong customer demand for its boat brands. The Springfield News-Leader reports the plant is expected to begin boat production in mid-April.
White River Marine Group includes Legend Marine of Midway, which they purchased in 2017, and Flippin-based Ranger Boats, which they purchased from Fishing Holdings in 2014.
The White River Marine Group has been in the industry since 1978 when they introduced the first professionally-rigged and nationally-marketed boat, motor and trailer package. A press release from the company in 2017 stated their brand “Tracker” is the top-selling fishing boat in the United States.
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