Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 25, 1990 TAG: 9007250377
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Construction of the new hosiery-finishing plant, which is expected to provide 250 jobs over the next five years, is a bright spot in a county that for seven months has been dotted with announcements of closings and layoffs.
"When we made the announcement in December, people started filling the lobby up to fill out applications [for jobs]," said James Reagan, plant manager for the original Renfro facility on Pulaski's Jefferson Avenue. "We had to tell them the new plant is a long way off yet."
Construction is expected to begin in two weeks and end in March. "As soon as we can get in it, we'll start utilizing the building," Reagan said.
Peter Huber, assistant county administrator for economic development, said officials would be pleased to see the expansion, regardless of the timing. "No one's pretending it's a replacement for AT&T, but it is something positive," he said.
AT&T announced in January that it would close its New River Valley Works over the next year, costing the New River Valley 1,000 jobs. About 40 percent of the plant's workers are from Pulaski.
"We're kind of a bright spot in the county's economy right now," said Reagan, who also will manage the new facility on Bob White Boulevard.
Four years ago today Renfro officials met with the county Board of Supervisors to announce the opening of a hosiery-manufacturing plant in Pulaski, said Robert Merrit, chairman of the board for Renfro Corp. The company was to take over the facility vacated by Virginia Maid Hosiery Mills, which had closed a year earlier, leaving 300 people out of work.
"We thought the meeting would be just a formality, but some 85 [of the laid-off] workers crammed into the meeting room to support our move. We knew we were on a roll."
The company had committed to bringing in 100 jobs in its first 12 months, with hopes of adding another 200 over the next few yers. Today, the plant employs almost 500 workers.
"Our expectations have been more than exceeded," Mayor Gary Hancock said during the 30-minute ground-breaking ceremony. "The 250 or more jobs you will provide mean a great deal."
Pulaski County supplies 28 percent of Renfro's workers. The 69-year-old corporation is headquartered in Mount Airy, N.C.
About 50 business and economic-development officials turned out at Tuesday's ceremony, which was held in a graded field off Bobwhite Boulevard.
Renfro's new facility, which is to be on Newbern Road, will be used to finish socks and hosiery. At full capacity, it will be able to finish 100,000 pairs of socks a week.
Workers at the existing facility both knit and finish socks.
by CNB