RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Lees Commercial Carpets, a division of Mohawk Industries Inc., will invest $26.6 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Rockbridge County. The expansion project will create at least 25 new jobs and necessitate retraining for 150 current jobs.
“Lees Carpets has been a valued employer in Rockbridge County since 1935,” said Governor Kaine. “The company makes up 40 percent of the manufacturing sector in the county. I congratulate Lees on this significant expansion and look forward to another 70 years of success in Virginia.”
Lees Carpets, a division of Mohawk Industries, is headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia. Founded in 1846, Lees is a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of modular and broadloom carpets for commercial applications such as office buildings, airports, convention centers, schools, retail and healthcare facilities. Lees' manufacturing facility, located in Glasgow, Virginia, is a fully integrated plant for yarn manufacturing, dyeing, tufting and finishing carpets.
Plant Manager Lane Leonard said, “We are pleased to announce the expansion project for our Glasgow facility. Since 1935, Lees and Rockbridge County have had a strong relationship. The loyalty and talents of the thousands of people who have supported Lees, and now Mohawk, were important criteria in our site selection decision. This expansion ensures the continued growth of the commercial carpet operation in Glasgow for years to come.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Rockbridge Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $40,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Rockbridge County with the project. Governor Kaine also approved a $100,000 grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, a performance-based incentive available to qualifying existing Virginia firms, to close the deal. The company qualifies for rail access funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will also support the project with training and retraining assistance through its Workforce Services Jobs Investment Program.
“Lees Carpets has been a major contributor to the economic vitality of the Rockbridge area and to the quality of life of generations of area employees,” said Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors Chairman Harvey Hotinger. “The Board of Supervisors is pleased Lees will continue in this role for many years to come.”