NC Manufacturers “Made It Real” at RLCB Today

This post was authored by Sharon Giovinazzo, Vice President of Development and Community Relations at RLCB

The first stop of the Manufacturing Makes It Real Tour began with by a presentation/posting of the Colors by the Millbrook High School JROTC “Wildcat Battalion” and the national anthem sung by RLCB’s own Adaptive Technology Services Manager, Johnna Simmons with the Governor Morehead School for the Blind Choir students.

 Manufacturers from throughout the Triangle joined NC States IES and RLCB for the first day of Manufacturing Makes It Real Week.  We were honored to have a mix of university officials including Dr. Zuiches, Chancellor Woodson, Dr. Martin-Vega and the Executive Director of IES, Terri Helmlinger Ratcliff.  Also, Representative Jennifer Weiss, from the NC General Assembly joined us and fellow manufacturers.

 Janet Griffey, President/ CEO of RLCB provided our guests with a “history of manufacturing” in North Carolina by stating:

 “Webster’s dictionary defines manufacturing as a process to produce according to an organized plan and with a division of labor.  The first known use of the word manufacture was in 1648.”

 Griffey went on to tell our guests that, “The early history of business in North Carolina was complex and developed.  Like manufactures and entrepreneurs of today, the history of manufacturing in North Carolina is rich, and that is why we are here to celebrate today.”

 “That early manufacturing history included wagon making, grist mills, cotton gins, saw mills, cane mills, cabinet and furniture making and much more.

 By 1840, there were more than 3,400 manufacturing establishments in the state with more than 14,000 people working in these establishments. There were almost 1,750 North Carolinians working in mercantile and there almost 1,100 working in retail dry goods and other stores in the state.

 The creation of the first textile mill around 1815 in Lincoln County, North Carolina began a long process towards building manufacturing industries.

 There were about 45 textile mills in operation by 1860 but many did not survive the Civil War. However following the war, many were restarted by pioneering textile families on the same sites.

 By 1923, there were 351 mills in North Carolina, employing more than 81 thousand workers producing more than 325 million dollars in goods. The 20th Century saw the rise and dominance of North Carolina in the textile industry.

  And we have all felt the impact of not only the textile industry but the change of the business landscape throughout the Triangle and North Carolina, during the 20th Century and into the new millennium.”

 Griffey reinforced that today was proof positive that manufacturing is alive and well in North Carolina! 

 Our employees bid the visitors, the bus, and the tractor trailer farewell as they pulled out to their next stop in High Point.  Friday the tour wraps up at the state legislative building where the convoy will pull up and make a presentation to state government officials.

 Please check back for frequent updates as the week progresses!