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New Jobs are on the Horizon as MWW Plans Building Renovations

For Immediate Release – August 17, 2017

Manual Woodworkers and Weavers facility in Spindale, NC 
Manual Woodworkers and Weavers facility in Spindale, NC 
 
FOREST CITY, NC – N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved, under the State’s Building Reuse Program, Existing Building Category, a grant in the amount of up to $350,000 in support of renovations to the existing 225,181 SF Manual Woodworkers and Weavers facility located at 141 Spindale Street in Spindale, NC. Rutherford County Economic Development would like to congratulate Manual Woodworkers and Weavers (MWW), the Town of Spindale, and the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners on this proposed existing industry expansion in Rutherford County which will result in the creation of at least 35 new jobs.
 
Co-owners Travis Oates and Molly Oates Sherrill said, “Manual Woodworkers and Weavers is truly honored to have been awarded this generous Building Reuse Grant. We are looking forward to significantly expanding our Spindale/Rutherford county employment and to making strategic additional capital investments in our Spindale manufacturing facility.” Mayor Mickey Bland, on behalf of the Town of Spindale Board of Commissioners stated, “We would like to thank Manual Woodworkers for doing business here in Spindale.  We are pleased that the decision to expand operations at the local facility will present additional opportunities for the citizens of our community.”
 
Founded in 1932, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers’ current primary focus is on the “Make On Demand” marketplace for custom-printed home décor or apparel products. The Spindale building, which was built in 1924 with a few additions since then, will require significant repairs to facilitate this expansion. “We at MWW extend our heartfelt thanks to the entities that supported us throughout the grant application process,” Co-owners Travis Oates and Molly Oates Sherrill added. “We are very grateful to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Rutherford County Commissioners, and the Town Board of the Town of Spindale. We are especially appreciative of the tireless efforts on our behalf that were made by Rutherford County Economic Development, led by Mr. Tom Johnson and his staff.”
 
"On behalf of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, I would to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Manual Woodworkers for its continued investment in our community with this commitment to provide new jobs through this expansion in Rutherford County," Chairman Bryan King of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners said.
 
The State’s Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments in rural communities to support economic growth. Mike Gavin, Chairman of Rutherford County Economic Development Association stated, “I would like to thank Rutherford County Economic Development staff for taking the lead on this project, connecting Manual Woodworkers with the Town of Spindale, the NC Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, County Manager Steve Garrison, and all who provided support for this existing industry expansion.”
 
Rutherford County Economic Development is a nonprofit organization supported by public and private funding. The mission of Rutherford County Economic Development is to alleviate unemployment and underemployment within, and stimulate the economic development of Rutherford County and its several municipalities by fostering and promoting business and industry, developing commerce and trade, and inducing the location of manufacturing, assembly, and commercial enterprises in Rutherford County. Rutherford County has a population of 67,810 and is centrally located between Charlotte, NC, Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. With a strong infrastructure system including roads, water, sewer and fiber, Rutherford County is well positioned for continued growth. 

Click here to read a PDF of the Press Release

Click here to read NCDOC's Announcement