Thursday's ribbon-cutting event at the Spongex manufacturing plant on Anaconda Road was a sign of hope, future prosperity and growth for the town of Tarboro and people of Edgecombe County.

To celebrate the successful start up of this facility, Spongex opened its doors to local dignitaries and approximately 150 members of the community with a grand opening celebration.

Chief Executive Officer Mick Dannin of parent company Noel Group, called the opening of a newly renovated 266,000-square foot production facility, "the kick off to a new beginning" for Spongex and the Eastern North Carolina regional economy.

As a retail arm to adjacent building tenant Nomaco, the molded foam product maker elected to occupy the building that previously housed Glenoit "because of its proximity, available workforce and welcoming community," said Chris Ungermann, Spongex general manager.

An investment of $7 million by Nomaco and more than $200,000 from the Town of Tarboro have buoyed an operation that will provide 50 local jobs immediately with an additional 50 jobs anticipated over a span of two to three years. It's a relationship that president of Nomaco and Spongex, Julian Young, has great optimism about.

"We're excited to bring this new manufacturing facility and these new jobs to Tarboro," Young said. "We foresee a bright future ahead."

By Nomaco's solid track record in Zebulon and Tarboro, Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris has found the firm to be a "very good corporate citizen" – good enough, in fact, to confidently place an upfront investment of $200,000 with the possibility of additional funding "that could possibly approach one million dollars."

Funds will be used to supplant the building's existing legacy electrical infrastructure, including an uninterrupted power source "to help it run more efficiently and economically."

Like Morris, Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Harrell can appreciate the inertia created by Nomaco and the Town of Tarboro investing in the community.

"You've helped us bring jobs to Eastern North Carolina," Harrell said. "We believe others will follow."

Some "others" Harrell referred to may include added facilities and personnel to meet Nomaco's anticipated expansion needs. Ungermann expressed a sincere interest in a "progressive growth strategy," more specifically, to "double business in the next four years" as Spongex continues to forge relationships with retail giants such as Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Costco.

Quick-paced growth sometimes tests a corporation's will, but rapid population of the former Glenoit building was an affirmation to Spongex's deft leadership and employees' gritty determination, as the firm found a way to maintain production, retrofit the mammoth warehouse, plus move and add incoming hardware - all during one of North Carolina's hottest and driest summers in the last century. Compound it with an intolerant margin for error due to operating what Young described as "a seasonal business," and the employees ability to deliver a completed facility on-time and within budget proved itself a truly "incredible effort."

With the successful opening of the new facility in Tarboro, Spongex operations have fully transitioned from Shelton, Conn.

The company is known for its custom-engineered, extruded polyethylene foam products that serve the home furnishing, transportation, recreation, agriculture, toy, packaging, construction, OEM appliance and marine industries.

Among the local dignitaries and guests were Janet Bradbury of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's office, Betty Jo Shepheard of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's office, state Rep. Joe Tolson, state Department of Commerce Community Relations Manager Doug Byrd. Tarboro Town Council members Buck Price, Fred Williams, Jim Alford, Roland Clark, John Jenkins and David Smoot along with Town Manager Sam Noble and John Gessaman and Oppie Jordan of Carolinas Gateway Partnership.