news-record.com

REIDSVILLE — Albaad USA Inc., an international wet wipes supplier, will invest more than $9 million and add 95 jobs in the expansion of its AFG Wipes plant in Reidsville, Gov. Bev Perdue announced Wednesday.

The expansion was made possible in part by a $350,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

AFG Wipes currently employs about 200 workers in Rockingham County and was recently awarded a contract to produce a new infant wet wipe product. The project’s new jobs will pay an average annual wage of $21,820, not including benefits, according to a state press release.

Company CEO Dan Mesika said in a statement: “North Carolina was chosen for this project because of a wealth of talented and skilled labor, good shipping lanes to the East and Midwestern parts of the U.S., accessibility to ports to bring in raw materials and a well-established new aero transportation hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport."

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.

For more details on Albaad, go to: www.albaad.com. For information on job opportunities with the company, contact the Employment Security Commission Reidsville Office and JobLink Career Center, 8340 N.C. 87, Reidsville, or call (336) 634-5600.