This award provided funding to The Industrial Commons (TIC) to provide training opportunities for workers in the furniture and textile industries and to support the development and growth of an innovative closed loop production system. TIC partnered with Western Piedmont Community College and other community colleges to provide industrial sewing and upholstering courses to meet the workforce demand of the network of 40 textiles companies that make up the Carolina Textile District (CTD). Additionally, Material Return, a company controlled by TIC, worked with local manufacturers to convert post-production textile waste into new yarn creating a closed loop of production system, and adding value to these materials that are currently used for low-value purposes such as insulation. Companies in the CTD have identified demand for 80 employees in the next two years. These jobs pay about $33,000 and increase to average $45,000. Golden LEAF funds were used for equipment, project management and trainers, leased space, and supplies.
