Hocking Hills Garment Center, LLC Announces Expansion
Buchtel, Ohio: March 20, 2025 –– Hocking Hills Garment Center, LLC, in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and the Athens County Economic Development Council (ACEDC), today announced an investment of over $140,000 in its Buchtel Village facility, creating 20 new jobs.
A woman-owned company, Hocking Hills Garment Center is an industrial sewing school and garment manufacturing facility in Buchtel, Ohio. The company trains skilled craftspeople with a mission to return garment manufacturing to the USA.
“After 25 years in the fashion industry, I’m thrilled to bring my experience and connections back to the place where I was raised. The industry needs more Made in the USA products, and this region needs good, meaningful jobs. The Hocking Hills Garment Center is about answering both of those needs – revitalizing local craftsmanship while strengthening the future of American-made fashion,” said owner and CEO, Betsy Franjola.
Hocking Hills Garment Center is a new line of business for Betsy Franjola Fabric Studio (BFF Studio Inc.), a business based in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from Athens, Ohio, Franjola previously served as the Director of Fabric Design at Abercrombie & Fitch and has extensive experience within the industry.
Located in a renovated former church, Hocking Hills Garment Center prioritizes hiring people who are victims of domestic and other violence. The center also serves as a training program for people in need of upskilling and uses the curriculum and certification program of the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center.
“Hocking Hills Garment Center is exactly the type of company the ACEDC aims to support,” said Mollie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Athens County Economic Development Council. “This project is making capital investments in building revitalization, bringing living wage manufacturing jobs back to the community, and investing in critical upskilling and training of our workforce.”
This investment is supported by a $50,000 JobsOhio Small Business Grant. The JobsOhio Small Business Grant provides grants to support the growth of small businesses that face unique challenges because they are either located in a qualifying zip code or are owned by an eligible population, which includes minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities. To qualify the company must have an eligible project and meet business size and industry requirements.
“We are thrilled to support the Hocking Hills Garment Center and its mission to revitalize garment manufacturing in the U.S. This investment not only brings quality jobs to Southeast Ohio but also strengthens the region’s role in reshoring an industry that has historically moved overseas,” said Katy Farber, Vice President of OhioSE. “By combining workforce training with a commitment to domestic production, Hocking Hills Garment Center is creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact on the local economy in Athens County.”
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Contact: Betsy Franjola, Owner/Founder, Hocking Hills Garment Center: 718.666.6744 and betsy@ohiohhgc.com; Matt Englehart, JobsOhio Communications Manager: 614.300.1152 and englehart@jobsohio.com; or Sarah Arnold, OhioSE Director of Communication & Marketing: 740.525.5510 and sarah@ohiose.com.
The Athens County Economic Development Council (ACEDC) is committed to increasing economic opportunity in Athens County by encouraging entrepreneurship, recruiting new businesses, and helping existing businesses grow and expand. The ACEDC manages the day-to-day operations of Athens County Port Authority’s programming and initiatives. www.athenscountyohedc.com
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve. Learn more at OhioSE.com.
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more atwww.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
