The president of Wellstone Mills says he’s working to keep the company’s Columbia and Tylertown plants operating.

The plants make clothing for the military and the U.S. Postal Service.

Wellstone’s military contracts were recently purchased by American Apparel of Selma, Ala.

The Columbia plant has 240 workers. The Tylertown plant employs 194 people.

Wellstone President Alton Spurlock says the company is working with Marion and Walthall County officials to find a way to keep the plants open.

Spurlock says American Apparel bought only the government contracts and the equipment to make uniforms.

American Apparel officials say the acquisition will guarantee jobs for 1,400 employees throughout Alabama for at least a year.a