Janesville Acoustics Incorporated to Expand

The company could invest as much as $250,000, creating 29 jobs.

December 12, 2007

MCDOWELL COUNTY NC NEWS -- An international manufacturer of fiber insulation for automobiles, Janesville Acoustics Incorporated, will expand its facility in McDowell County eventually create 29 jobs. The company investment could total as much as $250,000, and is partially funded by a $35,000 One North Carolina Fund grant. Pay for the 29 new jobs will vary by job function, with the overall average annual wage of approximately $36,000 not including benefits. That is more than the McDowell County annual average of $27,924 without benefits.

Janesville Acoustics is based in Southfield, Michigan, and produces non-woven fiber for use in areas such as hood and dashboard insulation, and underlayment for carpet, and operates as a unit of Jason Incorporated.

Jason Incorporated is a diversified manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with operations throughout the United States and twelve foreign countries. Jason's businesses, including Janesville Acoustics, are among the largest U.S. manufacturers of finishing products for industrial applications and O.E.M. precision components throughout the world. Jason was established in 1985 and was a publicly owned company until July 2000, Jason became a private company through a management-led buyout.

Janesville Acoustics is one of the world's largest makers of acoustical and thermal products for the transportation industry and currently operates manufacturing plants in Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The plant in Old Fort currently employs 96 full-time workers.

Several factors led the company to choose North Carolina for the expansion, Plant manager Jonathan Berghammer said, "The McDowell County economic development team along with the excellent workforce in the area were big parts of the decision to expand at this facility."

Governor Easley took time to comment on how Janesville Acoustics could take advantage of support from North Carolina educational system saying, "North Carolina is the world's largest producer of non-woven textiles, including those made by Janesville Acoustics. This industry can take advantage of our skilled manufacturing workforce as well as the cutting-edge technology and support coming from our universities, such as N.C. State University's College of Textiles."

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial assistance to attract business projects that will stimulate economic development and create new jobs in North Carolina. One North Carolina Fund grants require local county matching funds.

North Carolina partners who assisted Janesville Acoustics in this expansion included the N.C. Department of Commerce, McDowell County, McDowell County Economic Development Agency, McDowell Technical Community College and the Town of Old Fort.

For more information about Janesville Acoustics Incorporated, which will expand in Old Fort, North Carolina, go to www.janesvilleacoustics.com.