Brazilian Providencia opens nonwovens facility in Statesville

31 Jan '11

3 min read

Gov. Bev Perdue announced that Providencia USA Inc, a global manufacturer of nonwoven fabrics, will expand in Iredell County. The company plans to create 28 jobs and invest $60 million during the next three years in Statesville. The project was made possible in part by a $42,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“Providencia is an example of how our textiles industry is transforming, and the company's leaders know that North Carolina will provide a highly-skilled workforce and top-rated business climate that will fuel Providencia's innovation and growth,” said Gov. Perdue. “Companies from all over the world are making the same decision, and these investments will help counties like Iredell for years to come.”

Providencia USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Brazilian-based Companhia Providencia Industria e Comercio, the premier source for spunmelt nonwoven fabric in South and Latin America with just over 50% of market share. Spunmelt fabrics are used in a number of disposable products such as diapers, feminine pads and surgical gowns. Providencia will install a second state-of-the-art spunmelt machine at its Statesville facility, doubling the company's North American capacity. The company currently employs 53 in Iredell County.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $33,500 not including benefits.

“We are optimistic about the business outlook for 2011 and expect to be running at full production and sales capacity, besides concentrating on our new investment projects in the Kami 12 and Kami 13 production lines - in Brazil and in Statesville respectively -, which are expected to go into production next year”, says Hermínio de Freitas, CEO of Companhia Providência.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue's JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Iredell County and the City of Statesville.

NC Department of Commerce

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