Appalachian Regional Commission Awards $10 Million Grant for Textile Manufacturing Hub in North Carolina

Why It Matters:

This grant will support the expansion of circular textiles production, contributing to the growth of North Carolina's textile economy and creating job opportunities in the region.

The Details:

• The $10 million grant from the ARC will aid in the construction of a 40,000-square-foot green textile manufacturing hub.

• The hub will focus on circular textiles production, where textile waste is transformed into new yarn for manufacturing new products.

• TIC, a woman-owned nonprofit, supports employee-owned businesses and industrial cooperatives, emphasizing diversity and equity.

• TIC currently houses three enterprises, including Material Return, which has saved 1.8 million pounds of fabric from landfills.

• The project will be part of TIC's larger Innovation Campus at the former Drexel Heritage Furniture site in Morganton.

• The collaboration between North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee will result in $60 million in private investment and create 85 jobs across the three states.

• The grant is provided through the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Strong Economies (ARISE), a federal program promoting multi-state collaboration for economic transformation.

• The project also received a $5 million appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly for incubator construction.

Conclusion:

The ARC's $10 million grant to TIC will support the establishment of a green textile manufacturing hub in North Carolina, fostering the growth of the circular textiles industry and creating job opportunities in the region.