AR Textiles, part of Sunflag, a global group of companies with international operations ranging from yarns, fabrics, garment and household textiles utilizing the latest technology and machinery will invest $12 million to locate its manufacturing facility Robersonville, North Carolina to produce cotton yarn. The company plans to create 38 jobs in Martin County over the next three years.

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $114,400. 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.

AR Textiles considered a number of alternative locations in the U.S. and internationally, said Rao Palaparty, Vice President of AR Textiles. However, they were persuaded by the Martin County Economic Development Corporation and its county officials to locate the manufacturing facility in Martin County.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority also awarded Martin County a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $750,000 to support the reuse of a building in Robersonville. AR Textiles plans to locate its new operations in a building that has been vacant for more than three years.

In addition to N.C. Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., other partners that helped with this project include the Rural Infrastructure Authority, North Carolina Community College System, Edgecombe Martin Electric Membership Corporation, Martin County Economic Development Corporation and Martin County.

AR Textiles will be a great addition to one of North Carolina’s traditional manufacturing industries, said N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III. The company will not only buy N.C. cotton, but also make N.C. yarn.

Governor Pat McCrory said that North Carolina’s experience and leadership in the textile industry will serve AR Textiles very well. Leading manufacturers recognize that the state brings together all the right elements so they can achieve more.