Sewing Up PPE Solutions during a Pandemic Storm: Georgia’s Nivel Manufacturing Wins 2021 GEAR Citizenship Award

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Georgia, companies around the state pivoted to supply then-scarce personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, face shields, and gowns to frontline healthcare and public safety workers. While many joined the Georgia Suppliers Map to make their supplies available across the state, others focused on supporting local needs.

In Cairo, Georgia, it was local business Nivel Manufacturing that switched gears to step up and help their community. Employees volunteered to sew face masks and gowns for local healthcare and emergency workers, an initiative contributing to Nivel’s selection as the Citizenship Award recipient of the 2021 GEAR Awards, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). The GEAR Awards recognize advances in the state’s automotive and mobility industries through innovation and emerging technologies. The Citizenship Award recognizes the impact of Nivel’s corporate involvement in the community.

With facilities around the U.S., Nivel is the largest supplier globally of aftermarket golf car and personal transportation vehicle parts and accessories. Located in Georgia since 2015, Nivel makes aftermarket accessories for the Personal Transportation Vehicle (PTV) and Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) industries: lift kits, brush guards, windshields, tops, seat covers, enclosures, and valances for vehicles that serve suburban families, rural work, golfing, and outdoor lifestyles. Nivel’s products give clients endless ways to customize their PTV or UTV.

When the company established their Cairo location, they consolidated manufacturing operations from three other states. Since their grand opening, which was attended by Governor Brian Kemp, the facility has expanded to 130 employees and is still growing. The 110,000-square-foot plant boasts operations from welding and fabrication to assembly lines and sewing machine operators.

“Being in rural Georgia allows us to provide employment scarce in our area,” says Chelsie Cosby, human resources manager for Nivel. “We also provide on-the-job training support, so those without experience have an opportunity to succeed. We work with the Georgia Department of Labor on employment opportunities, as well as our local Joint Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce.” 

Nivel’s strong ties with the community helped them perceive and respond to the need for PPE in the early days of the pandemic. It set up a sewing team for workers who volunteered personal time to make nearly 1,000 masks and gowns for Grady County agencies, including Fire & Rescue, EMS, EMA, and Tift Regional Medical Center. They also provided hand sanitizers to the City of Cairo Fire Department.

“We greatly appreciate Nivel for their aid in sewing masks and gowns for local healthcare workers and our first responders during the start of the pandemic when they were not readily available. They helped our community during a time of uncertainty and supported us when supplies were scarce,” said Grady County Fire Chief and EMA Director Richard Phillips. 

“The opportunity to sew and distribute masks for our local frontline workers and area hospitals has been one of our most meaningful times in Georgia,” states Cosby. “It gave us the opportunity to support those who were supporting our communities during the heart of the pandemic and enhance our footprint in our community and the state.”

Cosby notes the company encourages citizenship efforts, with the executive team leading by example. Nivel is active with the Grady County Chamber of Commerce, the local high school College and Career Academy, and many other organizations. The company has hosted quarterly blood drives, back-to-school drives, and a holiday gift drive in which 200-plus gifts were donated for nearly 50 children in local foster care. It also sponsors community organizations’ fundraising events.

Nivel’s philanthropy doesn’t overlook its own team members. Company leaders have voluntarily been pied in the face and dunked in a dunking booth so employees could raise expenses for co-workers facing medical issues. 

Nivel also doesn’t overlook thanking its workers, rewarding members of the sewing team with handbags and gift cards. The company offers meals around blood drives and observes monthly birthday festivities. To celebrate winning the GEAR Citizenship Award, it treated employees to a barbecue lunch.

“We think the GEAR Award will be beneficial to our employees by showing the efforts they make within their community come with rewards outside of the positivity of knowing we’ve helped others. We also believe this will help to expand our reach within the community and the state,” states Cosby. “We announced the award at our holiday party and shared the news with our locations outside Cairo. The award was featured in our local newspaper and in the Chamber’s newsletter.

“Part of my decision to join the Nivel team was to enhance the organization’s presence within the South Georgia community. The facility – and the company overall – is a hidden gem in Cairo, with numerous opportunities for employment and growth, along with resources to support and enhance the local community,” she says. “This award is meaningful because it shows that our citizenship efforts are paying off. The award is not only recognition for what we’ve been able to achieve thus far within our community, it’s also motivation for what we can do in the future.” 

About GDEcD 

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit georgia.org for more information.