Safety clothing firm coming to Priest River

The North Idaho community of Priest River has landed a new employer – a California firm that makes protective jackets, coveralls and vests for road construction crews.

VanTech/Safetyline will move its operations to Priest River in spring of 2006, said Jim Caviglia, president and owner. The firm, which currently employs about 35 workers in Visalia, Calif., will initially hire about 15 to 20 employees.

Caviglia said he checked out six western states before deciding to relocate to Priest River. He chose the state of Idaho over Washington because Idaho doesn’t have a business-and-occupation tax. B&O taxes are calculated on gross sales instead of profits.

It’s a difficult tax structure for low-margin manufacturers, according to Caviglia.

The presence of a similar clothing company also helped bring VanTech/Safetyline to North Idaho. Caviglia met the owners of Silver Needle Inc. at a trade show. The Kellogg-based company makes protective clothing for a slightly different market.

Caviglia checked out locations in the Silver Valley before learning that Priest River had a vacant building just the size he needed. VanTech/Safetyline will move into a 27,000-square-foot building in the Priest River Industrial Park.

“We think he’ll be a real asset to the area,” said Amy McDonald, business manager for the nonprofit Priest River Development Corp. The 25-year-old nonprofit corporation is working to bring new employers to the area to help diversify Priest River’s timber-based economy.

VanTech/Safetyline needs workers with commercial sewing experience, Caviglia said. Information about future job openings will be available at (800) 872-3359, he said.