Robbinsville – The former Stanley Furniture plant – more recently Oak Valley Hardwoods – will undergo $80.5 million in investments to house an EcoKing Solutions manufacturing plant, creating hundreds of jobs and providing a huge boost to the regional economy.
Unveiled on July 22, the China-based manufacturer is breathing new life into the long-dormant 588,000-square-foot facility.
In establishing its first U.S. plant, EcoKing Solutions will invest $80.5 million locally over the next five years. The company has already launched a much-needed $21 million remodel on the location, with labor coming from companies in western North Carolina.
“Today is another example of why North Carolina is a sought-after state,” N.C. Department of Commerce assistant secretary of rural economic development Reginald Speight said at a news conference on July 22. “Manufacturing is the cornerstone of the economy here in North Carolina.”
Economic impact
The positive splash EcoKing’s presence will have in the region cannot be understated.
Once open, EcoKing will create 300 jobs – which will send it to the top of the list for employers in Graham County alone. The company’s projected, average salary for employees of $46,700 is slightly higher than the county’s median rate of $46,628 and once fully operational, the number of jobs could expand to 515 and an annual payroll of $14 million.
“We’re all familiar with these economic development announcements that happen for Raleigh and Charlotte,” Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) said. “To have the same kind of impact that this is compared to if something opens in one of those towns, a manufacturer would have to open a business with 37,200 employees. That’s how big this is.”
The building once housed Stanley Furniture, where residents throughout the region made careers until its closing in 2014 forced 400 employees out of work.
Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams was an employee at Stanley when the plant closing occurred.
“As someone personally affected by the plant’s closing in 2014, restoring manufacturing jobs to Robbinsville has been one of my top priorities as mayor since being elected, and I believe these jobs will greatly benefit our residents,” Adams said.
After a $12.1 million investment from CEO Jimmy Lee, Oak Valley Hardwoods began utilizing 30,000 square feet, or 19.6% of capacity, of the building in April 2015, but was forced to close in 2019, due to a number of factors – with funding being the largest.
At the time of its closing, Oak Valley had 23 workers on the payroll and maxed out at 35. Still, it and Stanley drew employees from across western North Carolina to Graham County, which ranks 97th in the state for population.
The Graham County Board of Commissioners and Robbinsville Board of Aldermen will provide incentives that will be paid out over five years – the county will pay $1.5 million, while the town will pay $1.3 million.
Additionally, the state will provide a $9 million incentive package during that time.
“North Carolina offers global companies a perfect location for expansion into North America,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a release. “We welcome EcoKing to western North Carolina, where it will find a welcoming business climate, education and workforce programs tailored to its needs, and the full range of competitive advantages that make North Carolina the top state to do business in the country.”
EcoKing Solutions
Founded in 2008, EcoKing Solutions is a subsidiary of a company known in its native country of China as Zhejiang (pronounced “Juh-jyahng,” in which “jyahng” rhymes with “song”) Kingsun Eco-pack Co. Ltd. The company operates three factories in China and employs around 1,500 people.
EcoKing specializes in eco-friendly, biodegradable pulp tableware (such as plates, bowls and trays) and food packaging containers. Restaurants, including Chick-fil-A and Chipotle, utilize EcoKing’s to-go containers.
The company operates 32 production lines, with an annual output of 75,000 tons of disposable paper tableware and food containers. According to its mission statement, EcoKing “centers on developing green technology that improves sustainability and quality of paper-based products.”
Locations in Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee were scouted over six months before EcoKing selected Graham County as its initial U.S. hub. EcoKing Solutions Chair Ping Zhang said all materials would be sourced domestically.
“It will be made in the U.S.A. and sold to the world,” Zhang said, drawing applause during the news conference. “In the future, we may face a lot of difficulty, but we have the confidence that with everybody’s support we will have a successful business in North Carolina.”
Reasons cited by the company for picking Robbinsville include:
- Ease of hookup to utilities from Duke Energy and existing town water/sewer lines.
- Company officials were said to be extremely impressed with the community’s hospitality and the motivation of the local workforce.
- A plant in Robbinsville will help establish a footprint in the United States and reduce shipping costs.
- The county’s natural beauty and border with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which EcoKing hopes will foster a high quality of life for employees.
The company also discussed plans to host both national and international partners around the area, thanks to its scenery.
An open house is tentatively scheduled to be held in the fall, after EcoKing installs equipment and has made progress on improving the facility. A date for launching the plant was not announced.
Partners
Mountain West Partnership is a division of the Southwestern Commission, which works to develop economic growth across western North Carolina.
EcoKing’s arrival in Graham County was a collaboration between the partnership, Southwestern Commission, Stein, Corbin, state Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin), U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Duke Energy, N.C. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Southwestern Workforce Development Board, Tri-County Community College, Western Carolina University, Old Town Brokers in Andrews, Graham County and the Town of Robbinsville.
Meggan Smith, chair of the Graham County Board of Commissioners, quoted Helen Keller: “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”