Gourmet chocolate lovers in Oklahoma gave thumbs-up recently to the Bedr� Chocolate Factory, which recently opened in Pauls Valley. The factory, which is located about an hour south of Oklahoma City, currently employs a staff of 20, but plans to expand to 60 employees in the near future. Pauls Valley has some 6000 residents.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Annoatubby (at far left) officially opens the chocolate factory.

The Chickasaw Nation funded the project with $750,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant from HUD. The Tribe contributed an additional $485,000 to bring the total funding to about $1.2 million.

The tasty morsels range from chocolate-covered Brazilian nuts, diabetic chocolate, strawberry chocolate and the favorite of many - "High Dollar Chips," which are chocolate-covered potato chips.

The company markets their products through a website and at more than 30 Neiman Marcus stores across the nation.

Cooks prepare "High Dollar Chips," one of the company's most popular products.	Some 60 employees in Pauls Valley will soon earn a living by making chocolate treats.