Preparations are underway for the grand opening of Handy Hardware Dec. 6.

"We are staffed with our start-up crew," said Ed Frey, warehouse manager. "With me, there are 53 total, and they are here training on equipment, and at the same time putting material away and putting it in the rack locations."

The distribution center will house tools and hardware of different shapes and sizes, along with cement, lumber and pipes. About 48,000 different items must be organized.

The company says in the next few years it hopes to increase the number of employees to around 170.

"We probably will stay at that level until next year," said Frey. "And as business progresses and we're able to bring more dealers on, more stores on for delivery, we'll be adding additional people."

Handy Hardware is not accepting applications at the moment. It had more than 400 job applicants this summer. The company is looking to attract even more business in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

"With new jobs coming into town and opportunities for people to start working, it's looking up," said employee Willie Grady. "Things are looking up."

The starting salary is $9.00 per hour.