African Americans from the South also migrate to industrialized Southern cities, beside Northward and Westward to War-boom cities. There is an increase in Louisville's defense industries, making it a vital part of America's effort into World War II and Louisville's economy. Industries range from producing synthetic rubber, smokeless powders, artillery shells, and vehicle parts. Many industries have also converted to creating products for the war effort, such as Ford Motor Company converting its plant to produce military jeeps. Also, the company Hillerich & Bradsby, initially making baseball bats but converted into making gunstocks. During the war, there was a shortage of workers in the defense industry. African Americans took the opportunity to fill in the industries' missing jobs during the war, around 4.3 million intrastate migration and 2.1 million interstate migration in the Southern states. The defense industry in Louisville reaches a peak of roughly over 80,000 employment. At first, job availability was not open for African Americans. Yet, with the growing need for jobs in the defense industry and the Fair Employment Practices Committee sign by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Southern industries began to accept African Americans into the workplace.