Randolph County EDC presents 2017 Annual Report

September 21, 2017

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County commissioners received annual reports Monday night from the Economic Development Corporation, the Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board and the Child Fatality Prevention/Community Child Protection Team.

Despite not landing the Toyota-Mazda assembly plant for the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite, the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation had good news for the county commissioners Monday night.

EDC President Walter Sprouse and Vice President Kevin Franklin gave the annual report, highlighting more than $158 million in new investment and 365 jobs created during 2017. Those figures include 34 projects and $5.655 million in grants secured.

Topping the list of new investment was the announcement in August that Fibertex Personal Care, a Danish company, would locate its first U.S. production facility in Asheboro. The $115 million investment will add a new plant on a portion of the former Goodyear property and create 145 jobs over seven years.

The acquisition of Acme-McCrary Corporation by MAS US Holdings became official last April. The Sri Lankan manufacturer of apparel chose Asheboro as its North American headquarters while intending to invest $20 million in equipment and renovations, which will add at least 133 jobs.

Other new investments in 2017 included:

• Acquisition of SouthCorr Packaging by DS Smith, a British company. That followed groundbreaking for a 50,000-square-foot expansion with a $5 million investment at the Asheboro facility, creating 22 new jobs.
• Piedmont Custom Meats bought the former Yates Ham plant in Asheboro. Investment of $4 million to upfit and equip the facility is expected to provide 40 new jobs.
• Sapona Plastics purchased the former Luck’s Beans property in Seagrove, investing $500,000 in renovations to create 25 new jobs. The company also will set aside a portion of the property for a new Seagrove town hall.
•  Ace/Avant Concrete Construction is building a 22,586-square-foot headquarters in Archdale with an investment of $5 million. The company offers foundations, floor slabs, tilt-up walls, paving, polishing, grading and utilities.
• Edwards Wood Products expanded its facilities in Liberty, adding more than 18,000 square feet at an investment of some $2 million. The company produces high-grade hardwood lumber and manufactures a number of wood products.
• Hughes Furniture Industries will invest nearly $1.5 million in its Central Avenue, Asheboro, building purchased in 2014 from Energizer. The upholstered furniture manufacturer caters to the residential market and is a trademark licensee of Serta.

Source: Courier Tribune