Ranger Boats’ Arkansas Plant to Expand

Fishing Holdings, the parent company of Ranger Boats, today announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Flippin, Ark.

The company will invest $13 million to retool, transition and expand its facilities, creating more than 115 new jobs. The additional jobs will increase total employment at the manufacturing facility to approximately 540 people.

"We're very fortunate to have a world-class manufacturing facility that's home to such wonderful employees and some of the industry's strongest brands," Randy Hopper, president of Fishing Holdings, which includes Ranger, Stratos and Triton boats, said in a statement.

The company was supported in its growth by the state of Arkansas, but specifics were not released in the company's statement.

"Ranger Boats is an Arkansas institution and a brand respected worldwide," Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said in a statement. "We are excited to see the company's continued growth and thank Ranger for this show of confidence in North Arkansas and its people."

Marion County judge Pete Giles said the Arkansas Economic Development Commission has been "a proactive agency and a great help to the economy of Marion County in this case. "We're grateful to see them step in and support a company that's been such a vital part of our community for so long."

Fishing Holdings is owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity, which acquired Ranger and several other boat brands following Genmar's filing of bankruptcy.