C Products Defense To Manatee County, 100+ Jobs

C Products Defense Inc., a manufacturing company that supplies ammunition for law enforcement, the military and rifle companies, plans to relocate from its facility in Connecticut to Manatee County. The relocation will create approximately 100 jobs in the Tampa Bay region.

“Our first two hires are military vets,” says Larry Panka Sr., president of LCJ Wholesale, sister company of C Products Defense. “We are looking to hire more military veterans. We will have 20 new employees by the end of the year, and then plan to add 20 employees each year for five years. ”

C Products Defense Inc. was founded seven years ago by Panka. In that time, the company has grown to be the largest manufacturer of AR magazines. Panka says that with the move to Manatee County he hopes to grow his company even more.

“We are looking to grow our business into the largest in the industry,” Panka says. “We also want to move into different types of product that complement our current line. ”

In order to meet these goals, Panka plans to hire personnel in management and manufacturing at his facility in Manatee.

“I have found that Florida workers here are hard workers,” Panka says. “They want to work, they get it. ”
To fund the move, Manatee County gave C Products Defense, Inc. a $100,000 performance-based incentive grant.  According to Panka, the county has been a great help in his effort to grow his company.

“Manatee County has made our move here seamless,” Panka says. “Their help and incentives have been exceptional. ”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Larry Panka, C Products Defense
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Kimberly Patterson is a news editor for 83 Degrees Media in the Tampa Bay region of Florida.