Manufacturing is one of the top employers in North Carolina. The Golden LEAF Foundation supports the growth of business and industry to create new jobs in rural, tobacco-dependent areas by providing necessary public infrastructure and workforce training.
In June, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $2.2 million to Rockingham County to construct a county-owned 500,000-gallon elevated storage tank necessary to provide sufficient water pressure to enable the location of Ontex Operations USA, LLC at the South Rockingham Corporate Park. Ontex Operations USA, LLC will create up to 403 new jobs with this location in Rockingham County. The company will manufacture a range of personal care and hygiene products.
“We are excited to add Ontex to our industrial base and look forward to a long-term partnership ensuring their success,” Leigh Cockram, Rockingham County’s economic development director. “This announcement is not only a great opportunity for job expansion in our area, but also solidifies that Rockingham County, including the South Rockingham Corporate Park, is positioned well for future growth.”
Ontex was considering locations in South Carolina and Georgia. The jobs will pay an average annual wage of more than $40,000, which is above the county average.
Projects to support the location or expansion of industry are typically funded under Golden LEAF’s Economic Catalyst Program. The Economic Catalyst Program assists eligible state, regional and local economic development entities with projects to support permissible activities in which a company will commit to create a specific number of full-time jobs in a tobacco-dependent or economically distressed area. For more information about the Economic Catalyst Program, visit https://goldenleaffoun.wpengine.com/grant-seekers/economic-catalyst-program/.