SHREVEPORT, La. — SuperATV, along with state and local officials, today celebrated the dedication of its new 100,000 square foot distribution center in Shreveport. On the first day of a two-day SuperATV Grand Opening event, SuperATV President Harold Hunt, President Scott Martinez of North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP), Secretary Don Pierson of Louisiana Economic Development (LED), Shreveport City Council Chairman Jerry Bowman Jr., Caddo Parish Commissioner Mike Middleton, Paul Pratt of AEP SWEPCO and other invited guests participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In February, SuperATV announced a $4.35 million capital investment to open its first location in the South, where the company will create 75 new direct jobs averaging $40,000 a year, plus benefits. LED estimates another 42 new indirect jobs will result, for a total of 117 new jobs in Caddo Parish and Northwest Louisiana.
“We are looking forward to opening the premier retail and shipping location for all aftermarket parts and accessories for side-by-sides in the heart of mud country,” said Hunt, who founded the company in 2003. “We have some additional expansion opportunities planned for the near future that will bring us one step closer to servicing all the needs for our customer. This second location, in Louisiana, will allow SuperATV to establish the premier retail and shipping location, so that we have the opportunity to bring our products to our customer as fast as possible.”
Headquartered in Madison, Indiana, SuperATV is a 16-year-old company specializing in All-Terrain Vehicle aftermarket products. A family-owned company, SuperATV specializes in aftermarket parts for a variety of ATVs and larger utility task vehicles, or UTVs, which also are known as “side-by-sides” for their larger size and passenger capacity. The new Shreveport site will support distribution to states across the Southeast U.S. and markets as far away as New Mexico and Colorado. The company could potentially manufacture parts at the Shreveport facility.
“With our reputation as the Sportsman’s Paradise and Shreveport’s strategic location on the I-20 corridor, SuperATV has selected an ideal location in Louisiana for its second manufacturing and distribution facility,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Not only will area residents be able to purchase products at SuperATV’s new retail showroom, but residents along the I-20 corridor will also benefit from great employment and career opportunities. We congratulate SuperATV for this big step in their growth.”
The Shreveport site represents SuperATV’s first expansion outside of the company headquarters location in Indiana. Since Hunt launched SuperATV from his garage, the company has grown to nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. SuperATV manufactures and distributes all-terrain vehicle parts under a variety of brands, such as Assassinator Tires, Gear Driven Performance and Rhino Axles.
“The addition of SuperATV is exciting news for our region and for Caddo Parish,” said Caddo Parish Commission President Stormy Gage-Watts. “Caddo Parish is an ideal place for businesses to invest and grow, and SuperATV’s creation of new jobs and capital investments is a testament to the strength of our economy and the potential for even greater development opportunities.”
“I am excited to welcome SuperATV to the Shreveport business community,” said Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. “The company’s expansion into the Shreveport market is a testament to our city’s competitive strengths, including a skilled workforce, the lowest cost of doing business in the nation, and great multimodal logistics.”
To secure the project, LED offered SuperATV a competitive incentive package featuring the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart®, the nation’s top-rated state workforce training program. The company also is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
“SuperATV’s investment in Shreveport is another positive example of how our economy is on the upswing,” said Scott Martinez, NLEP President. “We want to thank Vintage Realty Company, an NLEP investor, for its outstanding work on this project, as NLEP provided site selection, permitting and incentive information as well as investor referrals to SuperATV.”
On Saturday, a public open house will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the company’s showroom, located at 1039 Kay Lane in Shreveport. With more than 30 product categories, SuperATV expects to generate the highest sales volume from Shreveport for its axles, portal gear lifts, mud tires and lift kits.
About SuperATV
SuperATV started with a passion for off-roading. Its first product, a 2-inch Polaris Sportsman EZ Install lift kit, came as a result of founder Harold Hunt’s love of riding. The success of the lift kit, based on his own design, led Harold to set up shop in his garage, which also served as the warehouse and shipping center. The intent was to fill a small need for off-road enthusiasts, which was the same need he had for better sportsman parts. As the industry exploded and demand grew, so did SuperATV. As demand from avid riders increased, SuperATV’s product line expanded to include a full range of aftermarket parts, from axles to long travel kits. For more information, visit SuperATV.com.