Fit Precast is gearing up to make a significant impact on the manufacturing landscape of south Gaston County with the launch of a new $102 million facility. According to an announcement made yesterday, the industrial concrete manufacturer will create 125 high-paying jobs, significantly raising the stakes in the local employment market with an average annual wage of $104,000, nearly double what the region's workers currently earn. This new venture, fittingly codenamed Project Willow, promises to innovate national infrastructure with a focus on stormwater management, transportation, and utility construction.
The projected site of the headquarters spans a substantial 72 acres off south US-321 and will encompass 154,000 square feet dedicated to the manufacture of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), precast storm structures, among other products. Matt Goreski, President of Fit Precast, emphasized the facility's sophistication, stating, "This flagship headquarters and production facility is the most advanced precast concrete manufacturing site in the country," and praised North Carolina's dedication through its various partners in securing the project’s location. Meanwhile, Gaston County officials have touted the operation as a testament to the area's growing appeal for companies leading in advanced manufacturing.
Local leaders have not shied away from expressing their enthusiasm over the development. Gaston County Board of Commissioner Chairman Chad Brown commented on the region's advanced manufacturing prowess and hinted at the importance of the partnerships that have made such an undertaking feasible. Gastonia Mayor Richard Franks echoed such sentiments, picturing the city as fertile ground for business and opportunity. Moreover, N.C. Representative Donnie Loftis drew attention to the job stability and opportunity that the new facility brings and lauded Gaston County's progress.
The Gaston County Economic Development Commission has been effusive in its welcome to Fit Precast, with acknowledgment of the many collaborations that helped cement the deal, including the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), and several educational and utilities partners. This arrival of Fit Precast seems to underscore Gaston County's identity as a nexus for the kind of business innovation and job creation that has the potential to reshape both local and national landscapes in industrial manufacturing.
