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Isothermal Textile Services Moves to Spindale

Spindale, NC – Rutherford County Economic Development is pleased to announce that Isothermal Textile Services has purchased the former Watts Regulator building located at 1148 Withrow Road, Spindale NC to operate a commercial laundry to serve the health care industry. The facility houses the corporate office, production and distribution operations. Customers in the health care industry, including Rutherford Regional Healthcare Systems, will be able to have their service needs met with this new facility. Rutherford County applied for and received a $256,000 grant from the NC Rural Center Building Reuse and Renovation Program to assist Isothermal Textile with renovations to the facility required to accommodate the new operation. The company’s initial investment in building improvements, machinery and equipment has been $2.31 million and the operation currently employs 34 persons.

Isothermal Textile Services is a division of WTMC, Inc., a company started in Gaffney, SC. After searching the area for a suitable site, the company determined that closing the Gaffney operation and relocating the business to an existing facility in Spindale, NC was their best option. “This county wants business,” said Lee Rhyne, CEO of Isothermal Textile Services. “My company had been in Gaffney, SC but needed to expand to a new location due to space limitations. When I approached Rutherford Regional about performing their linen and laundry service, the leadership there said they wanted to work with me—if I would agree to relocate here. They were intent on helping the local economy grow.”

Rutherford County Commission Chair Julius Owens said, “We are so excited to welcome Isothermal Textile Services to our county and thank them for their investment in our community and people! We are a very pro-business county and we welcome this great addition and other companies that are looking for a great place to locate. The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will work with Isothermal Textile Services to build a lifelong partnership.”

“On behalf of Rutherford County Economic Development I want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Isothermal Textile Services for choosing to locate their linen and commercial laundry service facility in Rutherford County,” said Terry Hines, Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Board. “I also want to thank the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, Rutherford Regional Healthcare Systems, the NC Rural Center, Carolina Trust and the Economic Development staff for all of their efforts in working with the company on this project.”

Special thanks and appreciation go to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, NC Rural Center, Isothermal Planning and Development Commission, Broad River Water Authority, PSNC Energy and the Town of Spindale for their support in helping Rutherford County Economic Development with the opportunity to bring new jobs to the county.

Isothermal Textile Services has hired over 34 employees for this facility which began training/production in November 2012. Additional hiring for Isothermal Textile Services will be handled through Division of Employment Security—Forest City Office. Open positions will be posted as they become available. The mission of Rutherford County Economic Development is to retain and recruit new jobs and investment to the county for both industrial and commercial development. Rutherford County has a population of 63,000 and is centrally located between Charlotte, NC, Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. With a strong infrastructure system including roads, water, sewer and fiber, the county is well positioned for growth as the economy continues to improve.

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