Gateway Safety Flare acquired by Orion Safety Products

Gateway Flare Company on North Main Street

LAMAR, October 10, 2019 – As of Friday, October 4, 2019, Gateway Safety Flare (GSF) of Lamar announced that it has completed the sale of its Lamar business interests to Orion Safety Products. Orion Safety Products, a leader in safety flare and emergency signaling devices, has facilities in Maryland, Indiana and Pennsylvania. GSF owners Todd and Sarah Horning will retain ownership of GSF building on North Main in Lamar.

Under the terms of the agreement, the business interests will be consolidated within the current Orion locations. The current employees of GSF will not be relocated with the transaction. Todd and Sarah Horning are currently in negotiations with other potential businesses to locate in the Lamar facility, which may include the rehiring of former GSF employees. With the sale now complete, the Hornings’ next priority is to make sure that their employees are given opportunities for success while remaining in Prowers County. “Our employees were our main asset, and we intend to do all we can to give them options for employment during this transition,” said Todd Horning.

According to Horning, the offer to purchase the Lamar-based business occurred quickly and negotiations were conducted to keep some of the operations in Lamar. The ultimate decision to relocate the business assets was based on logistics and location realities of Orion Safety Products. “We believe that this transition of our business is a victory and an example that this community can support more new businesses coming to the area in the future. Our experience conducting business in Prowers County has been positive since day one. The City of Lamar, Prowers Economic Prosperity and the entire community have been positive partners since we began exploring Lamar in 2016. We hope to continue to investigate new ways to be a part of the Prowers County business community in the future,” he commented.

Gateway Safety Flares started in Lamar in 2017 with continued growth each year. It recently expanded its operations from a smaller facility in Lamar to the current location on North Main Street.

Prowers Economic Prosperity Consulting Director, Tara Hosick said of the transaction, “While it is always tough to lose a business, Todd and Sarah Horning are examples of successful entrepreneurship. They built a business and ran it so well that their competition wanted to purchase them. The Hornings are true entrepreneurs at heart. There is no doubt that Prowers Economic Prosperity will continue to engage with them to seek new opportunities in Prowers County.” We wish them well and value the investments made in Prowers County.”

For information about economic development in Prowers County, contact Prowers Economic Prosperity at director@prowersPEP.org or 719-931-2144.