December 10, 2018. Foam Products Corporation, one of the world’s largest producers
of acoustical underlayments for laminate and hardwood flooring, announced the expansion of its Erwin plant. This expansion represents the creation of 15 new jobs and an investment of over $5 million by the company in Unicoi County. Headquartered in Georgia, Foam Products cited a favorable tax climate and the quality of life found in Unicoi County as key drivers of its decision. The company’s Erwin facility is located in the Riverview Industrial Park along the Interstate 26 corridor. The facility also has access to the Clinchfield Line of the CSX Rail Road, providing superior access to the Midwest, Northeast, and South Atlantic markets.
Foam Products expects to invest more than $5 million in property, plant, and equipment at their new site and hopes the additions to the facility will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2019. The company’s underlayment products are distributed from the manufacturing plant and are sold to customers as far away as the West Coast and Canada.
The Joint Economic Development Board of Unicoi County is expected to make presentations related to this project to related committees of the City of Erwin and County of Unicoi governments in the coming weeks. JEDB Executive Director Tyler Engle said, “Companies like Foam Products continue to invest in Unicoi County and Upper East Tennessee because of our prepared workforce and our quality of life advantages. We welcome this investment and look forward to our continued business friendship with the Company.”
Alicia Summers, Vice-President for Business Development at the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership, said, “Manufacturing is a key component in our region’s economy. This expansion is another sign of the exciting pattern of growth in our region’s manufacturing sector. We appreciate Foam Products and their continued investment and confidence in our workforce.”
The Joint Economic Development Board of Unicoi County was established in 1987 to advance the prosperity of the people of Unicoi County. The Joint Economic Development Board of Unicoi County is a founding member of the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership and aligns its economic goals with broader regional efforts to promote sustainable economic development in Upper East Tennessee.
