Local News - September 2003

RSI breaks ground on $7.5 million expansion

New operation will create 50 new jobs

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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Clutching gold- and silver-colored shovels, they flung red dirt into the air, symbolizing yet another expansion by one of the county’s largest industries.

City, county and state leaders gathered with company officials on a gray Thursday morning to celebrate a $7.5 million investment by RSI Home Products, Inc. in the Lincoln County Industrial Park.

“I think this expansion says there are positive things happening in Lincoln County,” Commissioner Tom Anderson told the crowd gathered in the park.

RSI officials announced that they will build a new 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the park, making this the company’s third building in Lincoln County.

The new facility will bring RSI’s total square feet in the county to 945,000.

The expansion will initially create 50 new jobs, said Paul Van Slyke, vice president of operations for RSI. That will raise the company’s total employment in Lincoln to 730.

The facility will manufacture wood components that will be assembled in RSI’s other facility in the Industrial Park.

That building was initially 320,000 square feet and was expanded to 420,000 square feet.

Officials applauded RSI’s decision to expand and thanked the company for again choosing Lincoln County.

In order to expand, Anderson said, it takes several things: sound management, the courage to invest and employees that are committed to the product they make.

“Clearly, RSI has those attributes,” Anderson said. “I think it says Lincoln County is a good place to work and a good place to live.”

Ron Leitch of the N.C. Department of Commerce lauded the relationship RSI has with the county and state and said he hopes that will continue.

Leitch said part of the reason industries are attracted to the area is because of the foresight county officials had when developing the Industrial Park.

Alan Lewis, developer with the Keith Corporation, said that on a regional level, the park stacks up favorably against other parks.

“Lincoln County, the Board of Commissioners and the Lincoln Economic Development Association have made all the right moves here … and it is paying off now,” Lewis said.

Commissioners offered RSI an incentive package of $155,542 which will be paid out over a five-year period.

Commission Chairman Jerry Cochrane said it good to see a Lincoln business expanding when other companies are declining.

“This is a win-win situation for both RSI and Lincoln County,” Cochrane said in a press release. “The county was able to offer RSI an incentive package, and in turn, RSI will provide more jobs and business to the county and its residents.”

The building is designed with the capabilities to expand to 420,000 square feet, a promising possibility for the county.

“I would like nothing more than to be back here in a few years to announce the expansion of this building,” Van Slyke said.

RSI is headquartered in Anaheim, Calif. and manufactures and distributes vanities, culture marble counter tops and medicine cabinets. The company has a manufacturing facility located on Generals Boulevard in Lincolnton and an assembly and distribution facility in the Industrial Park.

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Staff Writer Alice Smith can be reached at 704-735-3031 or alicesmith@ltnews.com

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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