Construction of a new 10,000 square foot facility for Opp’s Custom Collars in the city’s industrial park is set to begin in the next 30 to 45 days.

“It should take 90 to 120 days to complete,” Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar said.

“We will build the 10,000-square foot building for Custom Collars, and then it will be leased as a lease-purchase agreement back to Custom Collars,” Edgar said. “We have entered into the agreement with Custom Collars.”

The business, which is owned by Bruce Cauley, currently employs six people.

Edgar said the company, which has been manufacturing pet supplies including collars, leashes and blankets for the retail and wholesale markets in Opp for more than eight years, is rapidly growing.

“They have outgrown their facility,” Edgar said. “It will more than double their employment, adding about 12 to 15 jobs in the future.”

Last week, the city of Opp received notification it has been awarded $150,000 in a Community Development Block Grant to help provide water and sewer service to the new 35-acre industrial park. The city is also supplying an additional $45,240 in local funding for this project.

The improvements could also help the city attract new industries, the mayor said. “The purpose of this industrial park is to locate small businesses with five to 100 employees,” he said.

In addition, Edgar said the city was also awarded $350,000 from the state’s Industrial Access Road and Bridge Authority for road construction in the park in November 2009.