$1.55M received to aid in building green and sustainable textile industry
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Bill Poteat
Editor Emeritus
Reuse of materials is a foundation of The Industrial Commons’ plan for building a green and sustainable textile industry.
Morganton’s The Industrial Commons has received $1.55 million in grant funding to support its ongoing efforts to make the regional textile industry stronger and more economically and environmentally sustainable.
An initial grant of $800,000 was awarded in October by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
This grant, officials said, will provide for personnel and equipment in support of expanding the local textile production industry.
The grant was made with strong bipartisan support, drawing praise from both N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican.
“North Carolina continues to lead the way as a manufacturing powerhouse in the Southeast,” said Cooper. “This federal funding will help support important personnel and equipment enhancements for the textile industry in the Morganton area.”
“The Industrial Commons is a nationwide leader in promoting local textile circularity, and they are a key partner in western North Carolina’s textile economy,” said Tillis.
“I am proud to support this $800,000 grant,” Tillis continued, “which is another important federal investment in their work and in textile manufacturing in western North Carolina.”
The Industrial Commons is working with a number of partners to build a future of sustainability for the textile industry in the region, including Western Piedmont Community College, N.C. State University’s Wilson College of Textiles, Catawba Valley Community College, and Gaston College.
Receipt of the grant from the Economic Development Administration required a local match of at least $500,000, and that match was provided by a $750,000 grant from Jobs for the Future (JFF).
The JFF grant is made possible through the organization’s Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge, through which the Ares Charitable Foundation funds its Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) effort.
CREST, officials said, is a 5-year, $25 million initiative that seeks to close the gap between employer demand for a skilled green workforce and the number of people ready for these opportunities to help advance economic mobility.
Jessica Stockham, development director for The Industrial Commons, expressed delight at the receipt of the grant funds.
“We’re thrilled to see our efforts and model continue to grow with this new support from Jobs for the Future and the Ares Management Corporation,” she said.
“This funding, paired with our recent Economic Development Administration grant, reflects many years of dedication to building a resilient, community-driven model that supports frontline workers and strengthens the textile industry,” she added.
“Together,” she concluded, “we are creating quality jobs, skills, and opportunities that will foster wealth, stability, and prosperity — not only for our community, but for the region and industry as a whole.”
The Industrial Commons is a 501 © (3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2015. Its mission is to rebuild a diverse working class based on locally rooted wealth.
The organization does this by founding and scaling employee-owned social enterprises, creating industry networks, and delivering a suite of workforce development and youth engagement programs.
The ARES Charitable Foundation is also a 501©(3) that aims to accelerate economic equity and equality through strategic investments in career preparation and reskilling, entrepreneurship and personal finance.
Bill Poteat may be reached at 828-445-8595 or bill@thepaper.media.
