[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING HAYES MANUFACTURING

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, for over 60 years, one small 
business based out of Pineville, LA, has played a major role in 
building central Louisiana and creating hundreds of jobs along the way. 
This week, I would like to recognize Hayes Manufacturing as Small 
Business of the Week.
  In the early 1950s, James Hayes, Sr., worked in a local fabrication 
shop and quickly realized that he could produce a better product on his 
own. Working out of his garage with a welding machine mounted on a 
Model-T Ford, Hayes, Sr., established his namesake manufacturing small 
business in 1954. Over the next two decades, Hayes, Sr., acquired a 
small machine shop and successfully provided steel manufacturing 
products for central Louisiana. In 1972, his son James Hayes, Jr., 
joined the family business, and was shortly followed by his brother 
Cliff. Under their combined leadership and vision, Hayes Manufacturing 
has grown to become one of the highest regarded steel fabrication shops 
in the south.
  Today Hayes Manufacturing is one of three divisions under the Hayes 
Companies, which is operated out of a 13-acre property in Pineville. 
Hayes Manufacturing regularly partners with the local community to give 
back. Following the deadly, historic flooding in south Louisiana this 
August, Hayes Manufacturing organized volunteers to help Baton Rouge 
families repair their flooded homes. Hayes Manufacturing has also 
worked with the State and local governments in public-private 
partnerships that build Louisiana's infrastructure and grow hundreds of 
direct and indirect jobs. In 2011, as the CEO of the Hayes Companies, 
James Hayes, Jr., was awarded Small Business Person of the Year by the 
Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.
  Congratulations to the entire team at Hayes Manufacturing for being 
selected as Small Business of the Week, and I look forward to your 
continued growth and success.

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