February 20, 2009
A Kinston manufacturer that has been expanding since it arrived in town more than five years ago will continue to grow despite an ongoing recession.
“I tell my (employees), ‘What you see on television and in the media, that has nothing to do with us,’ ” Best Diamond Packaging LLC co-founder and President Kevin Thorne said Friday.
Thorne spoke before a packed house at Select Foodservice; the room was filled with local civic, political and business leaders who turned out to hear the economic development announcement and a speech from U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., on the economy.
Burr had spent the previous hour discussing last year’s financial meltdown and his ideas to fix the housing market.
Burr then switched gears and announced that Best Diamond would expand, stating he wanted “just to let you know I can be the bearer of good news as well as somber news.”
Best Diamond Packaging was born out of a partnership with Dopaco Inc., which also maintains a facility in Kinston. It manufactures napkins and packaging materials for the food industry.
The company, founded by Thorne and Robert Beavers Jr. in 2003, will move from its current home in the U.S. 70 West Industrial Park to a 210,000 square foot plant on Airport Road. The current workforce of 40 will expand by at least 12 people, and Thorne plans to invest about $ 4.5 million in capital expansions.
“We’ve built here, and we’re proud to be part of the fabric of this community,” Thorne told the audience.
George Graham, chairman of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, and Kinston Mayor O.A. “Buddy” Ritch Jr. congratulated Thorne.
“We’re all proud of your success … and Lenoir County stands ready to assist,” Graham said.
Ritch added: “We are healthy down here and we are growing. We are on the way and we’re not going to turn around and look back!”
Best Diamond Packaging LCC will receive the following state and county economic incentives:
County – $50,000 performance-based grant paid over three years
State – A combined $465,000 in tax credits for job creation and investment
David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.