By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó An Arkansas company has closed on its purchase of the former Hanesbrands plant on Thom Street.
The sale makes official Sustainable Textiles’ plans to restart the sprawling complex and employ more than 220 people, many of whom lost their job when Hanesbrands shut down the mill in December.
Sustainable Textiles completed its $500,000 purchase of the property Friday, according to the Rowan County Register of Deeds Office. Originally China Grove Cotton Mill, the plant covers 14 acres.
The company, which uses patented processes to turn textile waste into new product, is expected to create 223 jobs and invest $11 million over the next two years.
China Grove Mayor Don Bringle met with top company officials last week, including Joy Nunn, the chief executive officer.
“I feel much better knowing the deal has been signed,” Bringle said.
Bringle said the group of company officials also met with a group of former Hanesbrands operations and maintenance teams and have apparently put several of them to work.
“They want to hurry up and get started. They already have orders to fill,” Bringle said. He added that he is getting dozens of calls from former Hanesbrands employees who are excited about the company and want to know how to get a job.
Based on his conversations with company officials, Bringle said they want to have the plant up and running no later than August.
Sustainable Textiles is part of a group of companies owned by Strateline.
Interested job seekers are asked to send their resumes to jboyd@strateline.net.
Earlier this month, the China Grove Board of Aldermen agreed to rebate 75 percent of the town’s property tax collections on Sustainable Textiles’ new investment for five years.
The company would pay approximately $38,000 in taxes on new investment, with the town rebating $28,000. The town would net almost $18,000 in taxes yearly for the five-year period. That would include the 25 percent on new investment as well as nearly $8,000 a year on existing equipment that is not covered in the incentive grant program.
Rowan County commissioners also agreed to rebate 75 percent of the taxes paid for five years beginning in 2010-2011 fiscal year
Gov. Beverly Perdue previously announced a $300,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund to assist in bringing the company to China Grove.