State firms land $586M in Katrina FEMA contracts

[hippiechick]

I just don't get this ... shouldn't LA and MS area firms be getting them ?

:shrug:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051021/BUSINESS/510210434

By Madhusmita Bora
[e-mail]

Hurricane Katrina did more than just leave a trail of destruction on the Gulf Coast.

It paved the road, albeit tragically, for Hoosier businesses to land $586 million -- or roughly a fourth -- of the $2.3 billion in federal contracts to rebuild the region.

Indiana's burgeoning recreational vehicle industry landed the bulk of the business to provide temporary housing for Katrina victims.
The lion's share of those orders -- $521 million worth -- went to Nappanee-based Gulf Stream Coach. The company received the second-largest contract among all the businesses hired nationally by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide Katrina relief.

To meet deadlines, the company has devoted nine full production lines, hired more than 300 new employees, and brought facilities into production that were not scheduled to open until January.

Seven other Indiana companies landed contracts. They include: Tom Stinnett Holiday RV of Clarksville at $37 million; Tom Raper RV of Richmond at $14.6 million; and Marks RV Sales of Greenfield at $4.95 million.