HAMLET — A local manufacturer is expanding, with plans to add 30 jobs in the next five years.
State and local officials announced Thursday that Superior Plastics Extrusion Company, known as Impact Plastics, will be investing a total of $13 million over the next five years, with an initial investment of $5.3 million and 13 jobs.
“This announcement is just the latest example of a manufacturer finding success in North Carolina and deciding to expand their footprint here,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “Impact Plastics’ decision proves our strong workforce makes our state one of the best places to do business.”
Kenneth Robinette, chairman of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, said the county recruited Impact Plastics in 2005.
Salaries for the new jobs will vary by position but the average annual wage will be $76,412. The average annual wage in Richmond County today is $34,008, according to the governor’s office.
“(T)his is an excellent company which pays their employees an average of $75,000 per year, (more than double the average wage in Richmond County),” Robinette said. “I am very proud to have worked with this company over the years and we will continue to support them and foster their growth here in Richmond County.”
Impact Plastics is a family owned and operated custom sheet extruder with plants in Putnam, Connecticut and Hamlet.
The company specializes in high-efficiency, tight-tolerance, thin-gauge extruded sheet and roll stock and its diverse product offering of commodity thermoplastic resin materials are highly customizable and suitable for a variety of end use applications, including food, cosmetic and medical packaging, according to a county press release.
“When faced with the decision about where to implement our expansion, Richmond County became the obvious choice,” General Manager Bill J. Burke Jr. said in a statement. “During the last 14 years of manufacturing at our Hamlet, N.C. plant, the business environment fostered by both the state of North Carolina and Richmond County has always supported our growth initiatives.
“Their focus on supporting economic development within the state combined with an excellent local workforce has greatly contributed to our growth,” he added. “With this continued support, implementation of project Perfect Gauge is moving forward.”
Earlier this week columnist John Hood wrote about how manufacturing is returning to the Tar Heel State.
State officials agree.
“North Carolina is the top state for manufacturing in the Southeast,” said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland. “From our excellent, low-cost business environment to the ‘can-do’ attitude of our workers, North Carolina attracts the best manufacturers and I welcome Impact Plastics’ decision to expand in Richmond County.”
Commissioner John Garner said the county is glad the company decided to expand its local plant, adding the coming jobs will have a major impact on the county.
“This announcement will not only provide high paying jobs at the plant but will also provide additional opportunities for our strong plastics industry,” Garner said.
A performance-based grant of $38,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will facilitate Impact Plastics’ expansion in North Carolina, according to Cooper’s office. The One N.C. Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment.
All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
Other partners who helped make this announcement possible are Richmond County Economic Development, N.C. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of NC and Richmond Community College.
