FLORENCE GILKESON

Senior Writer

MMC Textiles is the newest industry attracted to Moore County.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to support the company with a $10,000 reimbursement for moving costs.

Ray Ogden, director of Partners in Progress, told the board that MMC Textiles plans to create nine new full-time positions when the plant begins operations in Carthage. That plan also calls for the addition of another 18 employees within two years.

Ogden said MMC Textiles LLC, a subsidiary of the Monroe-based McCoy-Ellison Inc., will lease space in the former Carthage Fabrics building in Carthage. He estimated the tax value of the plant's equipment and fixtures at $250,000.

The company has signed a two-year lease for about 23,100 square feet in the old textile industrial building and expects to complete the relocation within three months.

MMC Textiles manufactures equipment for the textile industry but does not produce textiles.

"We're asking for funds to help with the move," Ogden said. "The county won't pay until the jobs are established."

Partners is the nonprofit that handles economic development for the county, local municipalities and businesses.

Ogden added that the Century Committee of Carthage, which also supports economic development, has agreed to contribute another $10,000 to assist the company in moving to the area.

The board had called a public hearing to consider the appropriation for the new industry, but no one signed up to speak and no objections were raised.

Commissioner Tim Lea made the motion to enter into a contract calling for the $10,000 reimbursement with the provision that MMC will create nine new jobs, retain those jobs for a minimum of one year and will add property with tax value of at least $250,000.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.