Unilin Plant Site to be Announced Today
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Unilin Plant Site to be Announced Today
Thomasville, NC, Mar. 16--A multimillion dollar economic incentives package was successful in wooing a Belgian flooring manufacturer to expand in Davidson County--bringing with it 330 new jobs, according to the News-Record.
Davidson County Commissioners Chairman Fred Sink said an official announcement will be made today by Gov. Mike Easley that Thomasville will be home to the new $80 million Unilin Decor plant.
“We need the jobs in Thomasville," said Councilman Dwight Cornelison. He said getting Unilin to locate in Thomasville was “a good team effort. It’s going to cost a lot of money, and I hope it will be worth it. This is a good company, and we are making a long-term investment."
The City Council offered $3.3 million in incentives to the prefabricated flooring company on top of the $2.6 million being offered by Davidson County. Steve Googe, executive director of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission said during the negotiations that total incentives for Unilin--including state contributions--could be closer to $10 million to $12 million.
Guilford County, Montgomery County and Lancaster, SC, also were vying to bring the much-needed jobs to their communities.
Spokesmen for Unilin and Davidson’s economic development council did not return calls concerning the announcement that will be made at 12:15 today at Davidson County Community College.
State officials also would not confirm what Easley’s announcement will be, but Sink and Cornelison said it was a done deal. Sink said that he is happy that financial incentives made by local governments and the state will make more jobs available in Davidson County.
Dan Lynch of Forward Greensboro, which worked with Guilford County to bring the company there said, “This is fantastic. First and foremost we wanted it (the plant) to be in the Triad. This is good news for all of us. I think we are doing a better job of looking at things from a regional perspective. This is putting local people back to work."
Despite losing out to Davidson County, Guilford County Commissioner Bruce Davis of High Point agreed that it was good news.
“We need to do everything we can to attract new businesses to our area,” Davis said. “I applaud them. It’s an indication of the hard work that has been done behind the scenes by our economic development teams."
The new Unilin jobs in Thomasville are expected to pay an average of $16 per hour and boost the economy of a town that has been hit hard by downsizing in the furniture and textile industries.
Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett said that the effort to bring Unilin to Thomasville involved “terrific cooperation" by the NC Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office along with Thomasville, Davidson County and economic development leaders.
Former Mayor Hubert Leonard, who worked to bring Unilin to the area, said gaining the new plant was “a home run for Thomasville. I’m ecstatic."
Unilin’s subsidiary Quick-Step already employs about 100 people in the Thomasville area. They also have operations in Montgomery County. The Belgium-based company manufactures glueless wood and tile laminate flooring.
The proposed site for the new plant is 61 acres between NC 62 and Interstate 85, adjacent to a 60-acre industrial park. That park is occupied by Oak-Wood Furniture Gallery.
Related Topics:Armstrong Flooring, Mohawk Industries
