There are still a few textile mills in the Carolina Piedmont, making futuristic fabrics that cover soldiers’ helmets and the roofs of commercial buildings.

There is also a new threat on the horizon. A proposed free trade agreement with South Korea, which the House and Senate are scheduled to consider this week, would open the American market to a manufacturing powerhouse that has its own high-technology textile industry.

Glen Raven and Highland execs are quoted in the Times article, which says the textile industry is "struggling to be heard" as the bill advances.

It might help if the local paper covered the story.

Maybe free Jeri Rowe from the sob-story beat once a week and let the poor guy do some real reporting? That would improve content by commission and omission with the same maneuver.

Comments

[Mad Dog]

Didn't you know? Jeri is too busy with the Bucket List contest.

MD

[Ed Cone]

I've seen Jeri do smart and thoughtful work, including some behind the scenes stuff that was really top-notch. Management should let him be a real metro columnist -- something they currently lack -- to maximize reporting dollars.

Then take some of the money they spend on syndicated crapola -- hey, a lifestyle story from Minnesota, how interesting! -- and spend it on local soft-serve.

[TL]

Glen Raven's worth covering for lots of reasons; the Burlington-based global company does smart things.

The plant in Anderson, SC sends nothing to the local landfill, and the Burnsville, NC plant is on track to do the same.

Glen Raven's Norlina plant has a new 500KW solar array on its roof. It's the largest in Progress Energy's network and generates enough electricity to supply the needs of 47 typical homes.

[Billy Jones]

And unfair trade issues like these are just one of the issues the Occupy Movement wants to see addressed.