The bulldozers aren’t working yet. No date has been set for a groundbreaking. No announcements have been made about when new jobs will arrive.
Gildan Yarns, which announced last year it was going to build a yarn spinning operation off Interstate Drive in Mocksville, changed its mind.
They want it to be bigger.
Last week, Mocksville Town Board members rezoned 30 acres of land to industrial off the end of Brantley Farm Road. They and county commissioners approved incentives – tax rebates that should be paid back within five years.
Gildan is expected to build a $142 million, 700,000 square foot facility and create 290 new jobs.
“This is the biggest project we have ever had in the town,” said Mocksville Mayor Dr. F.W. Slate. “We are very excited and very appreciative.”
Town Attorney Hank VanHoy said taxpayers shouldn’t be concerned. The money is a refund of taxes paid, so it won’t require a tax increase or put a strain on the town or county budgets. And they will be repaid within five years.
“It’s a great opportunity for this community,” Van Hoy said. “It is just wonderful Gildan has chosen Mocksville. It excites me … like the first date with my wife.”
Davie Economic Development President Terry Bralley said Mocksville was chosen over other sites in North and South Carolina. When he became involved, the project was known by a code name.
“This project kept getting bigger. We’re delighted.”
It’s almost unheard for a small community like Davie County to land an Ashley Furniture and Gildan Yarns – much less in the same year.
“Who would have thought that textiles and furniture would be leading the way into bringing jobs back to this country,” Bralley said.
Bralley, accompanied to both meetings by Gildan president Chuck Ward, cited cooperation among elected boards and regulatory agencies in making the process work. “This really is a team sport,” he said.