Chris Lavender
February 1, 2008
Double D Trailers, a privately held corporation based in Pink Hill, will expand its equestrian trailer manufacturing business to another site in Lenoir County creating 55 new full-time jobs.
Lenoir County Economic Director Mark Pope announced the expansion during a Lenoir County Commissioners meeting on Thursday. Univar’s vacant 40, 000 square-foot facility at 403 Neuse Road will be used to manufacture high-end aluminum equestrian trailers. Univar previously used the site as a chemical processing plant.
Premiere Trailer, Inc., a subsidiary of Double D Trailers, will lease the Univar facility for five years with plans to eventually purchase the building. Both Premier Trailer, Inc., and Double D Trailers are owned by Brad Heath.
In about two months, Premiere Trailer, Inc., plans to begin manufacturing aluminum equestrian trailers at the site with plans to build 500 units and generate $7.8 million in revenues during its first year.
Pope said Double D Trailers, which employs about 30 people, will continue to manufacture its galvanization over steel equestrian trailers once the new Neuse Road site is renovated and in business.
The 40,000 foot-facility has been vacant for five years, Pope said. Premiere Trailer Inc., will begin renovations efforts at the site today which include replacing the building’s entire electrical system. The renovation work will cost about $300,000 to complete, Pope said.
Jim Yeates will head the Premiere Trailer, Inc., operation and said Thursday he is excited to be in Lenoir County. Yeates is currently employed by Double D Trailers.
“We are excited to bring new jobs to Kinston and Lenoir County,” he said. “It is important to keep our business in North Carolina.”
During the negotiation process, Pope said the aluminum equestrian trailer business had two options. The operation could have remained in Ridgeland, SC., or relocate to Lenoir County.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce helped facilitate the expansion, Pope said.
“We offered them some incentives to come here,” he said. “The operating costs were also affordable.”
The Lenoir County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday to match the Governor’s One NC Fund providing $50,000 in performance based incentives for the new business.
“It is a legally binding agreement,” Lenoir County Attorney Robert Griffin said. “If they don’t meet the numbers, they don’t get the money.”
According to the agreement, Premiere Trailer, Inc., must hire 22 people in 2008, 23 people in 2009, and 10 people in 2010. Pope said the new jobs’ average salaries are $28, 200.
Lenoir Community College will partner with the new business to help train its work force which will include machinists, painters, assembly workers, and welders.
“We can be involved in the orientation process and help develop a customized training program at no cost to the company,” LCC spokesperson Bobby Merritt said.
Yeates said Thursday Premier Trailer’s Inc., is accepting applications for the new positions. He will join the commissioners at 11 a.m. Monday at the Neuse Road site to tour the facility.
“When we can employ 55 people, it is a wonderful time,” Lenoir County Commission Chairman Paul Taylor said.
Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.