Officials Name October as a Month to Celebrate
October is Proclaimed as Industry Appreciation Month
Lincoln Economic Development Association began Industry Appreciation Month with the official signing by County Commission Chair, Alex Patton and City of Lincolnton Mayor, John Gilleland, on Wednesday, October 1st, at the office of Lincoln Economic Development Association. Participating in the event were other city and county employees, industry representatives and community business people.
The Proclamation event is to kick-off the month of October as being set aside by the City and the County to show appreciation for the strong industry and manufacturing sector at work in Lincoln County.
In its eleventh year, the celebration is specifically designed to show gratitude to the companies and workers that fire the engine of our local economy. The financial benefits of manufacturing for Lincoln County are significant and worth recognition. Manufacturing jobs make up almost 20% of the county’s employment, compared to just 8.8% for the state.
Since last year’s celebration of industry, LEDA has announced investment by new industries including: Medline, a state of the art medical supply distribution center currently under construction in the Lincoln County Industrial Park; R&R Powder Coatings announced an expanded operation opening in Lincolnton in a former Carolina Mills facility; G&W Laboratories purchased Actavis, a pharmaceutical company, and saved over 300 jobs in Lincoln County.
Investment by the existing industrial base continued to be strong in 2014. Cataler North America and Packaging Unlimited both had equipment expansions with multi-million dollar investment. Hydac, located in Denver, had a facility expansion which doubled its size to over 110,000 square feet in the Airlie Business Park.
The revenues that these and all other businesses generate, the tax-payers that they employ, and the indirect jobs they create fuel the livelihood of the community through a strong tax base. The jobs that come with expanded manufacturing sector are high-quality, high-paying jobs. In 2011, the average U.S. manufacturing worker earned $77,060 annually, including pay and benefits. This compares to an average worker in all industries earning just $56,436 according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
Other special events planned this month to celebrate Industry Appreciation Month include: the Lincoln County Industrial Manager’s Association sponsored Forklift Rodeo, a public tour of Cataler North American on October 15th and an Oktoberfest event to be held later in the month.