Allied Stone celebrated last Friday the grand opening of its new building, the Deana F. Ogle Building, named after the late Ogle who was the company’s first employee in Durant in 1999.
The company says the new facility will provide 100 new jobs.
Allied Stone manufactures counter tops and cabinetry.
The Durant Industrial Authority and Rural Enterprises were a part of this project and Brett Rogers, community bank president of First United and DIA board chairman, spoke at the dedication.
“Community members, partners, Allied Stone employees, investors, owners if you could, you don’t have to close your eyes but imagine yourself in a community that is growing,” Rogers said. “Imagine yourself in a community that has like-minded partners. Imagine yourself in a community that has a regional university that has grown over 38 percent in the past decade and it’s approaching 6,000 students. Imagine yourself in a community that the independent school district has grown over 32 percent in the past two decades and it’s approaching 4,000 students.
“Imagine yourself in a community that an owner of a company in the State of Texas and the State of Oklahoma decided to invest in this community that is growing and that is growing in their education systems. It’s growing in partnerships across the footprint. Then imagine yourself in Durant, Oklahoma, because that is the community that I am speaking of. We are growing. We are proud to have partners such as Allied Stone who have been in our community for two decades. They’ve seen the growth. They’ve witnessed this growth and they want to join in this growth and be a part of our future.”
According to Rogers, the expansion is an investment of more than $25 million creating more than 100 new jobs.
“These jobs are going to be new jobs, new families to our community, so to us that are in this community, let’s be ready for them,” he said. “Let’s open our hearts, open our hands and shake hands … so, let’s be out and about welcoming these families.”
Rogers said DIA partnered $1 million with the program and he recognized DIA board members, City Manager Pam Polk, DIA Director Kathy Moore and Durant Mayor Martin Tucker.
“Really that vision that you guys had, that the city’s having reminds me of a verse in James that says, ‘Faith without works is dead,’” Rogers said. “So, we can have all of the vision for Durant that we want but without partners like you putting in the work, putting in the investment, then our vision the future isn’t what we want it to be.”
Debbie Partin, REI senior VP of lending, said REI first began working with Allied Stone in 1999. She said she was honored to announce that Allied Stone is this year’s recipient of the REI New Markets Tax Credit Project award.
Allied Stone will be recognized October. 1,” Partin said. “We thank you, Allied Stone, for this investment and loyalty to this community and we wish you much success in your growth.”
Gerard Goh, Allied Group VP/CAO, said, “We be gathered here today to celebrate a significant milestone in our journey. For 25 years, Allied Stone has been a proud member of this community and we opened for business in 1999, starting from a modest office on Third Street. In 2005, we relocated behind us and today, we are thrilled to unveil our new 120,000 square-foot facility.”
Goh said the expansion would not have been possible without the support of local partners, including the City of Durant, Durant Area Chamber of Commerce and the Durant Industrial Authority.
“Finally, to REI Oklahoma, we are very grateful for your substantial financial support through the new markets tax credit program,” Goh said. “We appreciate everyone of you for being here today as we are involved in this exciting new journey for a new chapter for Allied Stone. Together, we are building a brighter future.”
Jerry Lim, Allied Group president, said the dedication was to someone very close to him and that was Ogle, the company’s first employee. He said Ogle was a wonderful individual who was his secretary for more than 20 years. Ogle passed away in 2021.
“She was here from day one until she passed,” Lim said. “I remember you and we miss you.“
