Garrett saw a need

Published 4:45 pm Thursday, March 16, 2017

Our community is a better place to work, live and play because of businessman Jim Garrett.

Garrett is a man who has seen needs in this community — ones which have affected people’s livelihoods — and done something about them.

A most recent example of this is his purchasing Farmville Printing — a business which was set to cease operations and close its doors this week, resulting in the unemployment of several people and the elimination of a much-needed service in our community.

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“I’m just at the point where I don’t think we should be losing jobs in our community,” he told The Herald in an interview recently. I agree with him. There’s no reason Farmville should see any job losses.

There is a reason, though, that Farmville should be seeing job creation and expansion, which Garrett is working on.

“If somebody didn’t do something right away, then a lot of the business would be lost and people would be out of jobs and we’d be sending more money out of Farmville to other communities,” Garrett said. “I was kind of stressed about that, actually.”

Garrett took the closure personally — evidenced in his statement during our interview. I think that’s pretty impressive.

There’s a sign hanging on the front door of Farmville Printing that the community should embrace, thanks to Garrett.

“Farmville Printing will change owners and move to a convenient new location effective May 1, 2017. Our company has been purchased by local businessman Jim Garrett, and he will move the presses and business office to 717 E. Third St. in Farmville. Farmville Printing will be adjacent to the offices of Kinex Telecom. Farmville Printing will continue to offer our community a full range of custom print products with the same fast, reliable service.”

“Jobs are hard to come by,” Garrett said. I agree with him. I also agree with him when he said during the interview that Farmville “was getting ready to blossom.” The blossoming of the community is, in part, thanks to Garrett’s hard work.

Garrett is developing plans to make the print shop more resourceful and accessible to the community.

“Hard printing is not dead,” Garrett said, calling the purchase of the business a “golden opportunity.”

I commend Garrett for his entrepreneurship and care for the people of our community.

JORDAN MILES is the managing editor of The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia. His email address is Jordan.Miles@FarmvilleHerald.com.