In addition to its fabric production plant in Woolwine in Patrick County, HanesBrands also operates a highly automated distribution center in Martinsville, employing approximately 400.

Speaking about this announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "HanesBrands is an important employer in Patrick County and the Commonwealth, and this investment and upgrade will ensure the continued vitality of its textiles operation in Southern Virginia. The company's consumer goods can be found in eight of 10 American households, and we are proud that Virginia contributes to the production of HanesBrands.

The talented and ample workforce in Patrick County has been vital to the success of the plant, and 50 new employment opportunities will greatly benefit the region."

"This project is significant for both HanesBrands and Patrick County," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "The company will upgrade its equipment technology to adjust to market conditions and increase production, making the plant more competitive while retaining an important 215 jobs and adding 50 new jobs in Southern Virginia."

"We have a great workforce and long history in Woolwine and Southern Virginia," said Bruce Duncan, HanesBrands' vice president of innerwear operations. "We are looking forward to adding greater flexibility to our Woolwine operations and doubling our current production. In the highly competitive worldwide apparel industry, our challenge is to bring on additional employees in order to run these machines at high speed and efficiency with excellent quality."

HanesBrands is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic apparel under some of the world's strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, JMS/Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra and Gear For Sports. The company sells T-shirts, bras, panties, men's underwear, children's underwear, socks, hosiery, casualwear and activewear produced in the company's low-cost global supply chain.

Ranked No. 512 on the Fortune 1000 list, Hanes has approximately 53,300 employees in more than 25 countries and takes pride in its strong reputation for ethical business practices. Hanes is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star 2012 Sustained Excellence Award winner and 2010 and 2011 Partner of the Year. The company ranks No. 152 on Newsweek magazine's list of Top 500 greenest U.S. companies. More information about the company and its corporate social responsibility initiatives, including environmental, social compliance and community improvement achievements, may be found on the Hanes corporate website at www.hanesbrands.com.