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Christine Fox
At the Jackson County Commission’s final working session for 2022, economic development director Tiffany Henry gave a “good news update” on the expansion of two Jackson County businesses, American Sewing Corporation and Innovation Brewing. presented to the committee.
In December, Henry received official word that the American Sewing Corporation had been awarded a grant to expand its existing manufacturing facility. The North Carolina Department of Commerce awarded the textile manufacturer his $60,000 grant to expand the company’s facility on Harold Street by 12,000 square feet.
The grant will help the business provide a total of 36 jobs for local employees. Twelve of these positions will be full-time permanent employees directly linked to the grant due to wage and benefits requirements. The new job will pay an average hourly wage of $18 plus benefits.
American Sewing Corporation is a full-service manufacturing company that “provides state-of-the-art manufacturing services, including early in-house design and engineering review capabilities to transform ideas and concepts into tangible prototypes and final products.” The company has the ability to assemble and complete projects at any stage. American Sewing Corporation is proud to be an American company specializing in American-made textile cutsews.
“We are really excited about this opportunity for American Sewing Corporation and Jackson County,” said Henry. “The expansion of their facility represents a $2 million investment in Jackson County.”
“This is the first building reclamation grant in Jackson County. The grant required a $3,000 match from the county,” Henry said. “Throughout the grant application process, we worked closely with the North Carolina Economic Development Partnership.”
In December, the county sold the Tuskasegi Mills Building to Innovation Brewing, allowing the brewery to expand production. The old manufacturing building on Scotts Creek Road past the health department provides an additional 100,000 square feet for the brewery. Innovation Brewing will move production to this space, adding his 22 jobs in Jackson County.
Innovation Brewery has been operating in Jackson County for over nine years. The company currently has three locations. The original taproom and production facility in downtown Silva, the Innovation Station in downtown Dillsboro, and InnoWhee on the campus of Western Carolina University.
“The Innovation Brewery expansion represents a $3 million investment in Jackson County,” said Henry. “The property was county owned, so now it’s back on the tax records.”
In other economic news for Jackson County, Henry reported that Jackson County has been approved for the Outdoor Recreation Economy Creation Grant (CORE), offered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center.
This grant provides a technical assistance program that provides outdoor recreation economy strategic planning and asset development services to leverage the abundant outdoor recreation resources available throughout North Carolina to strengthen local economic vitality. . This program will focus on activities that the community can do, such as: Encourage the development of small and medium enterprises. Position the community to attract outdoor equipment manufacturing. Plan the development of outdoor recreation assets and infrastructure. Improve the quality of life of residents.
The outdoor recreation economy is a broad economic sector that includes consumer spending on guides, outfitters, equipment, and more. Outdoor recreation also drives employment and consumer spending in other sectors such as manufacturing, retail, transportation, dining, tourism and travel.
The visioning process includes recommendations and recommendations for building an ecosystem of places where people participate in outdoor recreation, supporting small businesses, outdoor recreation infrastructure that improves the quality of life of residents, tourism, creative placemaking, and more. Identify your activity. These elements work together to increase economic opportunity and community vitality.
In order for the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center to be involved in the planning process, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) approved by the local government board is required. The MOU will be presented before the commissioner at his January meeting, Henry said.
“This program allows us to see the outdoor economy and what we can do to support it,” Henry said. We provide relevant industry assets available to help us understand where gaps may exist and what can be done to support and encourage entrepreneurship in the outdoor recreation economy. It’s helpful.
“We know we have natural assets, but this program helps us assess whether we are taking advantage of these assets, what is in place and what could be improved. ‘ she added.
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