The Growing Edge Blog

Statesville-Based Stamey Farms Partners with Ecuadoran Family to Open Value-Added Dairy Production Facility

thegrowingedge — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:22:52 +0000

N.C. Governor Bev Perdue and Statesville Mayor Cosi Kutteh joined members of the Stamey family – dairy and cattle farmers in Iredell County – and the Alarcón family of Ecuador to cut the ribbon on a new $7 million facility off Interstate 40 near Statesville.

Origin Food Group was created in 2009 when the two families partnered to create a company to produce a line of healthy yogurt-and-fruit shakes under the brand name Früsh.

Statesville Regional Development Executive Director Michael Smith commented on the opening of the facility and the larger trends in food and beverage production, “Origin Food is an excellent example of value-added agriculture. As consumers demand fresher, healthier food products and manufacturers seek efficiencies associated with moving food processing closer to the point of production; these farm-to-factory manufacturing facilities are cropping up around the country. The milk used in Früsh will come from neighboring Stamey Farms, making the trip from the cow to the container just a few hundred yards. You can’t get much fresher than that.”

Construction of the plant began in 2010. Initially, the plant will employ 28 workers, with employment expected to grow to around 50 by 2014.

Canadian Fabric Printing Company Opening U.S. Sales and Marketing Office in Statesville

thegrowingedge — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:12:08 +0000

For the second time in a month, a Montreal-based textile-products company has announced it will be locating a U.S. sales and marketing office in Statesville, North Carolina. Mikan Printing announced today it will be opening an office on January 30th in the 10,300 square foot building at 154 Commerce Boulevard in the Commerce Business Park near I-40.

Established in 1952, Mikan Printing is a family-owned and operated business which specializes in printing on fabric, tags and sew-in labels.

Initially, three Mikan employees will be based in Statesville, primarily in a sales capacity, but Mikan eventually plans to have a
manufacturing presence in the Statesville Region, according to company president Valerie Mikan.

Mikan joins fellow Montreal-based textile-products manufacturer Gildan, Inc., which announced in December its intent to relocate its U.S. Sales and Marketing office to downtown Statesville.

Kewaunee Scientific Expands Distribution Network

thegrowingedge — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:36:35 +0000

With two major dealer announcements since the first of the year, Statesville-based Kewaunee Scientific has positioned itself for strong sales growth in 2012. On January 16th, the laboratory and technical furniture manufacturer announced a significant business expansion with ISEC, Inc., one of the largest interior specialty contractors in the United States. In addition to its current sales territory, which includes Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and portions of Wyoming and New Mexico, ISEC will now also represent Kewaunee’s product line in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. “Since joining the Kewaunee dealer team in May 2011, ISEC has proven itself to be an extremely valuable partner in supporting our products and strategic growth objectives,” said William A. Shumaker, Kewaunee’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The ISEC organization continues to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the relationship. When combined with ISEC’s project turn-key capabilities, strong financial position, and bonding capacity, we are confident our expanded relationship will strengthen Kewaunee’s competitive position.”

Kewaunee followed this announcement up on January 18th with the addition of Nycom, Inc. to its domestic sales network. Nycom is one of the largest laboratory furniture sales and distribution companies in the United States. They will represent Kewaunee in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and western Pennsylvania. “We are extremely delighted to have Nycom join the Kewaunee dealer team,” said William A. Shumaker, Kewaunee’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Nycom’s experienced management team, strong sales organization, project management capabilities, and financial strength are expected to enhance and expand Kewaunee’s presence in their territories. Additionally, Nycom’s well-deserved reputation for providing superior customer service and outstanding installations makes them an excellent fit with Kewaunee’s strategic goals and values.”

The announcements reflect Kewaunee’s aggressive growth strategy, building on the $13 million plant expansion the company announced in 2010.

Kewaunee Scientific Corporation is a recognized a global leader in the design, manufacture, and installation of laboratory, technical and laminate furniture products. The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Statesville, North Carolina, and, with approximately 500 employees based there, is one of the largest private-sector employers in the Statesville Region. Kewaunee’s website is located at http://www.kewaunee.com.

Gildan Relocating U.S. Sales and Marketing Offices to Downtown Statesville

thegrowingedge — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:11:09 +0000

Montreal-based activewear manufacturer Gildan announced today it will be consolidating its U.S. Sales and Marketing offices from Newton and Greensboro, North Carolina to downtown Statesville, North Carolina. The move will bring approximately 30 professional jobs to the 9,500 square foot building at the corner of Tradd and Broad Streets, formerly occupied by Wachovia Bank and, most recently, Dana Corporation. The real estate deal was brokered by Harry Tsumas of Tsumas Real Estate & Development and Edwin Hunter of Edwin Hunter & Associates.

Chuck Ward, Vice-President of Integration for Gildan noted that the company plans to expand its U.S. Sales and Marketing operations in the future and the ability to recruit highly-skilled employees was one of the key reasons for choosing the Statesville Region. In addition to sales and marketing functions, the Statesville offices will also house the merchandising and design groups.

Gildan is a marketer and globally low-cost vertically-integrated manufacturer of quality branded basic apparel, and is the leading activewear brand in the screenprint market in the U.S. and Canada. The brand is continuing to grow in Europe, Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region. The Company sells T-shirts, sport shirts and fleece as undecorated “blanks”, which are subsequently decorated by screenprinters with designs and logos. The Company is also one of the world’s largest suppliers of branded and private label athletic, casual and dress socks sold to a broad spectrum of retailers in the U.S. Gildan markets its sock products under a diversified portfolio of company-owned brands, including Gold Toe®, PowerSox®, SilverToe®, Auro®, All Pro®, GT®, and the Gildan® brand. The Company is also the exclusive U.S. sock licensee for the Under Armour® and New Balance® brands. In addition to socks, the Company is increasingly becoming a significant supplier of underwear and undecorated activewear products in the retail channel.

With approximately 30,000 employees worldwide, Gildan owns and operates highly efficient, large-scale, environmentally and socially responsible facilities in Central America and the Caribbean Basin and has begun the development of a manufacturing hub in Bangladesh to support its planned growth in Asia and Europe.

Statesville Regional Development thanks Harry Tsumas, Edwin Hunter, Downtown Statesville Development Corporation, Statesville Chamber of Commerce and the City of Statesville for their assistance with this project.

PATE DAWSON COMPANY TO INVEST $9 MILLION AND CREATE 49 JOBS AT NEW FACILITY IN STATESVILLE BUSINESS PARK

thegrowingedge — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:30:22 +0000

Goldsboro, North Carolina-based foodservice distributor Pate Dawson Company (PDC) announced today it will invest $9 million over 3 years to locate a new distribution facility in Statesville, North Carolina.

The PDC Statesville facility will be located in the Statesville Business Park on US 70. The initial phase, which will begin immediately, will include the expansion of the existing 63,000 square foot Keith Corporation Shell Building to 105,000 square feet, and the creation of 49 new jobs. The average annual wage for all jobs will be $47,000.

PDC is one of the largest independent foodservice distributors in the Southeast; serving customers in fourteen states. Their current product line consists of about 6,500 items and includes fresh and frozen meats, poultry and seafood, fresh produce and dairy, frozen foods, canned and dry goods, paper products, foam and plastic containers, cleaning chemicals, supplies, and small wares.

“This project is an outstanding example of a public-private partnership,” said Mayor Costi Kutteh of Statesville. “The City of Statesville appreciates the hard work and professionalism of The Keith Corp. in marketing this park as a business destination. The effort of our City Staff, Iredell County, The Keith Corp. and Statesville Regional Development has contributed to bringing these new jobs and investment to our community. PDC is the type of company every City seeks, with strong values and a commitment to their employees and to the communities in which they operate. We are pleased to make this announcement and see this as a great way to end a challenging year and give us momentum as we begin 2012.”

Iredell County Board of Commissioners Chairman Steve Johnson echoed those remarks, stating that, “… we are very pleased to welcome Pate Dawson to Iredell County. As we grapple with structural changes in our economy, Food & Beverage seems to be one sector which has remained relatively stable and in which we have seen a lot of new activity locally. I want to thank Pate Dawson for locating their newest facility in Iredell County and want to work with them to make this a mutually-beneficial relationship for both them and the community.”

Statesville’s prime location at the intersection of I-77 and I-40, its proximity to major markets in the Southeast, and the ready availability of a skilled workforce were major factors in Statesville’s selection. In areas where additional training will be required, Mitchell Community College will team with PDC to implement an on-going workforce development program.

Statesville Regional Development Executive Director Michael Smith commented, “This is the second new company to locate in the Statesville Business Park in the past two years, and the second major announcement of new jobs and capital investment in the Statesville Region in the past two weeks. While the community still faces many challenges with the economy, this is clear evidence that we are headed in the right direction. Since the first of this year, we have announced more than 350 new jobs and over $80 million in new capital investment.”

Statesville Regional Development would like to recognize the following partners in this significant announcement for our community: the City of Statesville, Iredell County, PSNC Energy, ElectriCities of North Carolina, the NC Department of Commerce, the NC Community College System and Mitchell Community College, the One North Carolina Fund and the Greater Statesville Area Committee of 100.

C.R. ONSRUD ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF TROUTMAN FACILITY; COMPANY WILL INVEST $5.5 MILLION AND CREATE 30 JOBS OVER THREE YEARS

thegrowingedge — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:18:53 +0000

Troutman-based CNC machinery manufacturer C.R. Onsrud, Inc. announced today it will be investing $5.5 million over three years in a major expansion project at its facility in Troutman, North Carolina, where the company has been located since its founding in 1915.

The project will include a 30,000 square foot expansion of the company’s current building at 120 Technology Drive and the addition of new capital equipment and fixtures throughout the facility.

The project is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2012, with building construction finished by mid-year and the new equipment in place and operational by the first quarter of 2013. As the result of the physical expansion, the company plans to add 30 new jobs over a three year period, including 10 by the end of 2012. The new jobs will be advanced manufacturing, electrical, mechanical and engineering positions with an average salary in excess of $45,000.

Onsrud specializes in high quality CNC machinery designed for the aerospace, woodworking, plastics, and composites industries. The expansion is being undertaken to increase production capacity to meet unprecedented demand for the company’s products, and to increase vertical integration of the company’s manufacturing processes in order to remain globally competitive.

According to Troutman Mayor Elbert Richardson, ”It is great to see a local business achieve such success in the marketplace. This is the second major industrial expansion announced in Troutman since the first of the year and we are pleased to be the kind of place where companies want to and are able to grow.”

“I want to congratulate the C.R. Onsrud Company for their success. It is thrilling to see a local company doing so well,” commented Iredell County Commissioners Chairman Steve Johnson. “The best way to achieve job creation is to support the efforts of the companies who are the innovators and job creators. I want to thank them for making this significant investment in Iredell County.”

Dr. Steven Binder, Chairman of Statesville Regional Development, noted, “I have known the Onsrud family for the entire 31 years I have lived in this region and have witnessed their ingenious ability to broaden their market from its original inverted router business nationally to its present inclusion of the CNC business globally. Nothing pleases me more than to see a local family industry succeed and remain committed to competing globally from right here in our own backyard. Much congratulations to the Onsrud family and organization for their continued success.”

Statesville Regional Development would like to recognize the following partners in this significant announcement for our community: the Town of Troutman, Iredell County, the NC Department of Commerce, Duke Energy, the NC Community College System, P.S. West Construction and the Greater Statesville Area Committee of 100.

Providencia USA Breaks Ground On $60 Million Expansion of Statesville Facility

thegrowingedge — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:27:06 +0000

Statesville — June 22, 2011 — Providencia USA Senior Management and Statesville Business and Civic Leaders gathered this afternoon for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase of the Brazil-based company’s $60 million expansion project at its West Industrial Park facility in Statesville. The project, which was announced in January, includes the construction of a 90,000 square foot plant expansion and the addition of $50 million in new capital equipment; doubling the size and production capacity of the current facility. The project is being built by Statesville-based G.L. Wilson Building Company. When complete, the expansion will increase employment at the nonwovens facility from its current level of 55 to 83.

Greater Statesville Development Corporation Executive Director Michael Smith welcomed the guests and introduced Providencia USA CEO Hermínio Freitas. Freitas spoke of the cooperation between his company, Iredell County and the City of Statesville and how that cooperation and the excellent business environment in Greater Statesville contributed to their decision to expand at this location. Freitas further noted that the additional revenue projected for this expansion will push Providencia above the $100 million mark in total annual revenue. “It’s happening fast, which is good, and I hope we will be able to continue the good relationship we have had so far and eventually bring more good news in the future for you, as well.”

Freitas was followed by Chairman of the Iredell County Commissioners Steve Johnson who thanked the company for coming to Iredell County and showing confidence in the community by expanding the operations here.

Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh noted that, “we have two focuses in economic development, recruiting new business and helping existing businesses to expand, and Providencia USA is a great success story for both.”

For more information on this announcement:
C. Michael Smith, 704-871-0062, http://www.greaterstatesville.org

John Marek and Lisa Taylor Complete Salesforce Training

thegrowingedge — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:59:14 +0000

As part of our commitment to improving client service and more efficiently reporting and tracking information relevant to our clients, the GSDC is implementing a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system called Salesforce for Economic Development. The first step in the implementation process was training the staff in the administration of the system. John Marek and Lisa Taylor both completed a 4-day Essentials of Salesforce Administration training class the week of May 16th at the MetroTek Training Center in Charlotte. The class was extremely challenging, with a number of hands-on exercises and tests. Salesforce is a cloud-based system which is also used by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Greater Statesville Companies Lauded for Safety

thegrowingedge — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:06:55 +0000

At a banquet held on May 18th at the Ramada Inn & Conference Center, 19 Statesville area businesses received North Carolina Department of Labor awards for outstanding safety records. The awards were presented by North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry. Recipients included:

Silver Award

Advanced Tubing Technology Division of Samuel-Manu-Tech, Inc.
ASMO North Carolina, Inc.
BSI-Balance Systems Division of Amesbury Group, Inc.

Gold Award

CEMEX, Statesville Ready-Mix Plant
CommScope, Statesville Facility
G.L. Wilson Building Company
Iredell County Government
JMS Southeast, Inc.
McCombs Steel Company, Inc.
Merchants Metals, Statesville
Zimmer Orthopaedic Surgical Products
Pneu-Mech Systems Manufacturing
EFC Builders
Betco, Inc.
Engineered Sintered Components
3A Composites
O.W. Slane Glass Company, Inc.
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation
Employment Security Commission, Statesville Office

Million-Hour Award

Engineered Sintered Components

April Performance Metrics

thegrowingedge — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:55:07 +0000

Inquiries: 6

Active Projects: 21

Industrial Outreach Visits: 19

Industrial Outreach Referrals: 11