Decision Nears on Huge Plant, Hundreds of Jobs for Lincoln County, NC

September 13 -- Lincoln County commissioners approved incentives Monday night that they hope will help convince a Chinese-owned company to build a huge manufacturing facility here that would employ hundreds of people and pump millions of dollars into the ailing economy.

Although the company already has selected Lincoln County as its North American headquarters, it is still considering a location in another state for the manufacturing plant that initially would employ 300 and ultimately maybe thousands.

Denver Global Products, owned by RATO North America, would invest a minimum of $20 million within two years and employ 300 people at an average annual wage of $31,000. Both the capital investment and the planned average wage are substantially higher than any other economic development announcements in Lincoln County in many years.

Denver Global was a small, privately owned company on Pilot Knob Road in Denver until it was purchased late last year by the Chinese company, RATO, in a deal valued at $70 million.

While in Denver, the company employed a number of engineers who spent thousands of hours testing and researching small engine equipment such as lawnmowers.

The company ran out of space in Denver a few months ago and was convinced by county economic leaders to move at least temporarily into a vacant building in the Lincoln Industrial Park in Lincolnton.

The Denver Global president, Roger Leon,  told news@norman last year that he would like to build the new manufacturing and distribution center in the Denver area. That decision hinges, however, on a number of things including the availability of infrastructure, and local and state tax incentives.

County officials described the attempt to persuade Denver Global to locate in Lincoln County as “very competitive.”

Georgia is believed to be the other state competing for the company. Leon, like several of Denver Global’s key employees, formerly lived in Augusta, Ga.

Leon envisions building a campus-like development for manufacturing, distributing and research and development.

The company likely would build small-engine equipment like its Chinese owner that builds everything from power tools to motorcycles.

The decision by commissioners Monday night would give Denver Global about $80,000 annually over five years in local tax incentives. The state has also approved unspecified incentives and grants in an attempt to convince Denver Global to locate in Lincoln County.

If the company decides on Lincoln County, construction could begin next spring.

 Ken H. Fortenberry       www.denverncnews.com