Posted March 11, 2016

 

SHELBY, N.C. – The textile resurgence by way of China continues in the Carolinas.

 

Uniquetex, LLC, a joint venture between two Chinese companies, announced through the State of North Carolina its intention to build a 150-employee nonwovens production facility in Grover, N.C.

 

The announcement came in a release by N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla III and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC).

 

Uniquetex is investing $31.6 million in a production facility, its first in the United States.
 

Uniquetex manufactures nonwoven fabrics for use by medical and healthcare providers, as well as other industries. The company is a joint venture between Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven Co., Ltd., one of China’s largest nonwoven textile businesses, and Wenzhou Chaolong Textile Machinery Co., Ltd., a Zhejiang, China-based developer of equipment and technologies for nonwoven textile manufacturing.
 

“Textile manufacturing is one of North Carolina’s greatest traditional industries, and it is still growing,” said Gov. McCrory. “Our state is the ideal destination for globally positioned, innovation-driven textile companies like Uniquetex.”

 

Uniquetex intends to hire 150 workers over the next five years at its Cleveland County operations. Positions will include machine operators, technicians, customer service representatives and others. Salaries will vary by position but will average $36,313 per year. Cleveland County’s overall average wage is currently $35,885 per year, according to the release.

 

“We are extremely excited to start up our first U.S. operations in Cleveland County, N.C. The combination of a skilled workforce, access for quality transportation infrastructure and the pro-business attitude of the community is what attracted us here,” said Benny Deng, company CEO and president.
 
The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $800,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. One NC grants also require and are contingent on financial matches from local governments. 

 

Source: N.C. Governor’s Office