For about the last two weeks operations at USA Fabrics have been at a standstill. The problem is that the roof at the plant leaks badly.
Fixing the roof could be costly. Because of the building's age, city officials say along with the roof, other features could also have to be fixed. Mayor Eddie Fulton says bringing the building up to standard could cost a million dollars or more.
'USA Fabrics cannot operate in the current building and repairs are so extensive that it's just not feasible,' says Fulton.
To address the problem the owner of USA Fabrics and the Clarke County Board of Supervisors are looking at ways to partner and move the plant to a metal building just yards away from the current site.
'They're asking the owner of USA Fabrics to come up with a plan to show he has the working capital to operate this plant and his willingness to move it,' says Mayor Fulton. 'If those things would happen, the board of supervisors would be more willing to build that building out and the walls up, things like that that have to be done in order to move it.'
Since opening ten years ago, Mayor Fulton says USA Fabrics has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for the city. If it can remain open he says it could even generate more jobs.
'He's got country music stars right now who for every one of their concerts they'll buy 3,000 to 5,000 shirts and they'll do 8 concerts. You've got five of those. So, there's an extensive demand for them and we've got one of the biggest screen printers in the world who will come back and buy from us.'
This week an evaluation is being done to determine how much it would cost to move the plant into the new building. Once that information is available, Mayor Fulton says the owner of USA Fabrics is expected to present the estimate to supervisors.
USA Fabrics opened in Quitman in 2002. At its peak, more than 80 people worked there. Six months ago that number had dropped to 22.