DIVERSIFICATION COMMISSION
HAS HELPED TO BRING NEW
INDUSTRIES TO THE COUNTY
By SAHA II MASON WHITE
IN Gastonia, the Welcome Mat is
out to new industries seeking a
home and the Gastonia Indus¬
trial Diversification Commission is
directing its every effort toward
letting this fact be known in every
section of these United States. To
make Gastonia the "Bright Spot"
on the industrial horizon, is our
aim. While constantly on the alert
for ideas which will promote the
full utilization of our community
assets, the Commission is daily
projecting this thought to manu¬
facturers of products ranging
from "hushpuppies" to steel fab¬
rication.
In telling the world that indus¬
try has prospered here, it is our
belief that there are other types
of industry which can contribute
to a more balanced industrial pat¬
tern and a more stable, long range
economy by taking advantage of
the many factors which contribute
to successful and profitable oper¬
ations in Gastonia. It is our con¬
sidered opinion, that Gastonia can
be an even better place in which
to live, work and prosper. With
this thought in mind, we are pro¬
ceeding with our program of pub¬
lic service provided by the tax-
Cayers of Gastonia Township to
ring about the establishment of
new and diversified industries
here.
In 1945. Gastonia's live wire
Junior Chamber of Commerce
beat the drums for this program,
sponsored an enabling act in the
North Carolina General Assembly
to authorize a special election in
the Township on the Diversifica¬
tion Proposal which called for a
tax levy of 2c per $100 valuation to
finance the program, gained the
support of other civic groups and
many prominent citizens and were
successful in establishing a Com¬
mission made up of two representa¬
tives of the Junior Chamber of
Commerce, two from the Gastonia
Chamber of Commerce and three
others to be named by the four ap¬
pointees. In October of that year
an Executive Secretary was named
to direct an office and the program
which they proposed.
Since the inauguration of the
program a number of new and di¬
versified industries have been
established in Gastonia. The Com¬
mission is proud of those which it
can claim full credit for. In the
Factory Project of the Industrial
Realty Corporation a community
enterprise, which is located in cast
Gastonia and which this Commis¬
sion sponsored, there is the
Southern Paper Industries. In¬
corporated. a fast growing busi¬
ness which is serving the needs of
industry in the paper field. Then
too, Standard Business Forms, Inc.
which firm manufactures all types
of carbonized, inter-leaved busi¬
ness forms, is literally bursting at
the seams and contemplates ex¬
panded facilities immediately to
relieve the conditions which have
been brought about by the de¬
mands of their business.' Folgo En¬
terprises. also located in the Facto¬
ry Project, is designing and build¬
ing machinery to be used in the
paper converting industries. Opera¬
tions at Folgo require the highest
skills in that field, and the future
of this firm is unlimited in scope.
Delaine Worsted Mills. Incorpo¬
rated which was established here
in late 1947 by Milton Tager and
his brothers. Sidney and Ralph, is
manufacturing worsted yarns for
the knitting and weaving trade.
Installation of the very latest type
Whitin machinery for worsted
spinning was completed in early
1948, and recently much additional
equipment for conditioning and
winding has been installed. When
Delaine started operations in Gas¬
tonia. officials contemplated an ex¬
tensive training program, but this
was found not necessary, due to
availability of highly skilled work¬
ers in this area. Thus, a nice saving
was effected for this firm. Delaine
has purchased additional ground
for future expansion of their op¬
erations.
The combined capitalization of
these new industries is in excess of
$400,000.00 and the approximate
1 a n t investment amounts to
175.000.00
Payrolls in Gastonia have been
increased by $325,000.00 annually,
this to approximately 80 employees
in the four industries. By statistical
comparison, this investment means
much to the community in the way
of public improvements such as
utilities, schools, retail and whole¬
sale trade, professional services,
bank deposits, travel and increases
KEESEE BELTING
AND SUPPLY CO., INC.
P. O. Box 157 Phone 5-3711
Manufacturers of
LEATHER BELTING AND
LOOM STRAPPING
DOMESTIC and IMPORTED LEATHER
И К
Slur ANYWHERE
Gastonia .... North Carolina
THE STATE. DECEMBER 4. 1948
27
