Some 75 to 90 new jobs will be added to the workforce in Opp next month.

Peggy Henderson, plant manager at the Opp branch of American Apparel, said Monday that the company was able to secure military defense contracts to make Army combat uniforms.

Henderson said the plant already has a contract to make Marine uniforms and Afghan police force uniforms, which enables the plant to employ 72 workers.

The announcement comes on the heels of American Apparel receiving top honors as a Gold Star Supplier from the Defense Logistics Agency.

The Gold Star designation is part of the Department of Defense’s Superior Supplier Incentive Program.

American Apparel was one of only 15 companies identified in the highest tier as Gold Star suppliers.

“We are very excited,” Henderson said. “We are in the top 15 alongside of Mercedes and Boeing.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Session, R-Ala., a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, agreed.

“Alabama is blessed to have many plants and factories that create good-paying jobs in their communities,” he said. “Looking out for these local industries is essential to maintaining a strong middle class. One such Alabama company is American Apparel, which supplies uniforms to our men and women in the armed services.”

This is welcomed news after the plant reopened in 2014. The company layed off 225 employees in May 2013 when the company did not get a military contract it was expecting.

The company had announced in late 2010 that it was awarded three U.S. military contracts to provide uniforms and uniform pieces for troops serving in combat operations.

At the time, the Opp branch added 60 jobs to the workforce, which brought employment to 225.

Henderson said applications will be accepted beginning Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., and will continue weekdays.

For more info, call 493-8940.