LOCAL & REGIONAL
Prystup Packaging Products is located in Alabama's "Black Belt", which is well-known for its rich, dark soil. Unfortunately, it is also known for widespread poverty and high unemployment. From the beginning, the Prystup corporate family has sought to offer hope for a better community by offering good jobs, competitive pay and opportunity for advancement.
Six months after opening its doors, the company hosted its first Christmas party, which was also one of Sumter County’s first desegregated social functions. Twenty-five years later, Prystup Packaging’s workforce has tripled (110 employees), but it continues to reflect the demographics of the communities where they live—70% minority. Most of the company’s technicians and supervisors have been promoted from within the in-house training program and their commitment to that program is reflected in the average length of service, which consistently averages well over 10 years.
It isn’t surprising that this commitment to service extends well beyond the employee parking lots. Prystup Packaging Products is represented in nearly every church, club, arts or civic organization in their communities. Whether planning a church function, coaching a little league team or mounting a community theater production, Prystup employees will always be at the forefront, setting an example for leadership.
Over the years, Prystup Packaging Products has pumped nearly 50,000,000 payroll dollars into a struggling economy and its goal is to double that amount in a fraction of the time. Accomplishing that goal necessitates reaching beyond the boundaries created by county lines, state lines, even national borders. In 2004, management started the quest with a renewed commitment to its regional minority council, South Regions. Participation in the networking events and educational opportunities provided by the Council has influenced the company to refine its operating philosophy and update its business plan. In 2005, Prystup Packaging Products was awarded South Regions Minority Business Council's Crystal Award for MBE Supplier of the Year (Class III).
