Local News

National Starch Expansion

On September 19th, National Starch marked the official opening of its expanded adhesives, synthetic polymers and electronic materials manufacturing facilities. According to Alan Bate, executive vice president of National Starch and Chemical Co., the expansions increases flexibility and "reflects National's commitment to maintaining a leadership position in the specialty adhesives, polymers and electronic materials industries."

National Starch officials hosted key company executives, customers, contractors and local dignitaries at the plant off Cedar Springs Road to a dedication and ribbon-cutting for its $20 million expansion project. Seven new structures and additional 10,000 square feet of production area have been added to the existing Salisbury facility. Additionally, National Starch increased its headcount by more than 30 new employees to support the expanded facilities and now employs 215 local people. 85 people attended the ceremonies, took extensive tours of the new areas and enjoyed a barbecue luncheon.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners and Salisbury City Council at the recommendation of the Salisbury-Rowan EDC approved an Expansion Assistance Investment Grant. The Grant will apply over the first 5 calendar years after commencement of the expansion and the first annual ad volarum taxes have been paid.

Thanks to Rich Steinert, Operations Director, and the National Starch team for their hospitality and The Salisbury Post for covering the event and assisting with this article.

Please see the Industrial Profile section for more information on National Starch.

PGT Industries Relocates

In one of the biggest projects of the year for the Charlotte region, new life has come to a vacant building and a new industry has come to Rowan County.

PGT Industries Inc. has relocated to the 390,000-square-foot former GDX Automotive building. The $31 million project is expected to bring 400 jobs by the end of the year with plans to add an additional 300 employees by 2008. The facility near Granite Quarry provides the space the company requires to handle increased production and future growth. By this fall, glass tempering and laminating capabilities are expected to be fully operational.

PGT is headquartered in Florida and makes custom windows, doors and patio rooms and is well known for its hurricane-resistant windows and doors.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners at the recommendation of the Salisbury-Rowan EDC approved a Relocation Assistance Investment Grant. The Grant will apply over the first 5 calendar years after commencement of operations and the first annual ad volarum taxes have been paid. The Town of Granite Quarry actively assisted with the project. The company, also, qualified for a Job Development Investment Grant through the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Thanks to The Salisbury Post for reporting the opening.

Parkdale Mills building sold to Claridge

Reuse of a former textile building provides an opportunity to the community.

The 96,000-square-foot former Parkdale Mills warehouse has been sold to Claridge Textile Industries. The Cheuvo Vista, CA company will occupy the building for textile distribution.
The warehouse is located in downtown Salisbury off North Main Street between Lexington Avenue and the railroad tracks near Control Resources Inc. and the former Coors building.
The large warehouse, situated on a 3.66-acre tract, was once the Parkdale Fiber Distribution Center for the company's Northern Division.

The Salisbury-Rowan EDC with the assistance of The Keith Corporation brokered the sale of the facility.

Thanks to The Salisbury Post for reporting the sale.

Regulatory and Business Assistance Guide

A 60 page guide for new and expanding businesses within the Salisbury-Rowan community has been published by the Salisbury-Rowan EDC. In the 2006 Regulatory and Business Assistance Guide, federal, state and local information is covered in three main sections: business regulations, assistance and contacts.
The Regulations section covers taxes, licenses and permits, and credits and incentives. The Business Assistance section details where a business should start, available financing, employment, marketing and development assistance. The Contacts section is a thorough listing of local, state, federal, utilities, other service providers and trade associations. Additionally a listing of Frequently Asked Questions is included.
The guide is available at the Salisbury-Rowan EDC office or may be downloaded in .pdf format from the website.

Rowan Jobs Initiative

As the private/public sector partner of the Salisbury-Rowan EDC, Rowan Jobs Initiative (RJI) continues the branding and marketing of Rowan County with advertisements in Site Selection, Business Facilities and Southern Expansion magazines. Almost a hundred inquiries have been generated from the ads and are being actively responded to by the Salisbury-Rowan EDC. The ads and the direct mail campaign to over two thousand site selection consultants and brokers are driving traffic to the website. There has been a substantial increase of hits compared to the same period last year.

The overall advertising campaign created with the assistance of the Lyerly Agency won the Silver Award at the 2006 ProAd Awards from the Business Marketing Association of the Carolinas.

RJI has a long term plan to lay a solid foundation for the promotion of Salisbury/Rowan County with direct marketing and awareness to new and expanding companies, consultants and developers throughout the country.

New Company On The Way

The Wellington Leisure facility located in Granite Quarry is under contract. An out of state company plans to close on the facility once due diligence procedures are completed. A formal announcement by the Salisbury-Rowan EDC and company officials is forthcoming.