Alleghany County, the Town of Sparta, and Blue Ridge Electric Partner to Help Charleston Forge Bring Jobs to the Area
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Phone: (828) 758-2383; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; E-mail: Renee Whitener
Sparta, North Carolina (March 6, 2001) – Alleghany County, the town of Sparta, and Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are partnering together to help Charleston Forge bring jobs to the county.
Charleston Forge is a manufacturer of quality furniture with headquarters in Watauga County and a satellite location in Sparta. The company has employed about 40 people at its Sparta plant for the past 10 years, and is now expanding that operation to add an estimated 70 jobs over the next four to five years, according to Art Barber, president and chief executive officer of Charleston Forge.
Charleston Forge plans to lease the building formerly occupied by Carolina Narrows, which is owned by Alleghany County. However, the building needs renovations totaling $210,000 in order to meet the specific needs of the new Charleston Forge manufacturing plant.
Through a special economic development program sponsored by the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), Blue Ridge Electric will be securing a zero-interest, 7-year loan for the Charleston Forge renovation. NCEMC is the statewide organization serving electric cooperatives in various capacities—from aggregating power purchases for lower rates to providing community assistance such as the economic development fund.
“This is exactly the type of project that NCEMC and North Carolina electric cooperatives desire to help through our economic development program,” said Brian Crutchfield, director of economic development for Blue Ridge Electric.
“Alleghany County has lost a number of jobs recently, and that type of loss eventually has a direct effect on the local community and its residents,” he continued. “Part of the mission of an electric cooperative is to add to the quality of life in the areas we serve by supporting and helping plan for good economic development, so we’re very pleased to be able to make the loan available to Charleston Forge. This will make it easier for them to expand their operation here and provide good jobs for Alleghany County. They are an excellent corporate citizen and Alleghany County will benefit from this expansion,” Crutchfield said.
In addition to the community benefits, manufacturers like Charleston Forge and other such businesses are the type of cooperative member that helps the stability of the cooperative as a whole, Crutchfield said. Crutchfield also added that formal approval from the cooperative’s board of directors is necessary although the board has been aware of the possibility of the expansion and potential need for the loan.
Ownership of the building by Alleghany County is also a contributing factor in the expansion. The building was purchased with an EDA (Economic Development Administration) grant that allows the county to lease the building for rates below market value to companies that provide jobs, according to Don Adams, county manager.
“This is a win-win-win situation for all involved,” said Adams. “Alleghany County is benefiting from a quality company that will offer jobs to our local residents, the county is able to continue leasing a building that was recently vacated, and Blue Ridge Electric is meeting its community development objectives,” Adams said. “It is exciting to finally hear about new jobs moving into Alleghany County, and we welcome the expansion of Charleston Forge in our area,” Adams added.
The county will hold a public hearing on March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Alleghany County courthouse regarding the lease of the building to Charleston Forge and the availability of incentives to the company. Charleston Forge is expected to occupy the building this month and add some 20 jobs before the end of 2001.
