County Links
Labcorp and Alamance Community College Partnership – As one of the co-chairs of the Community College Caucus, Congressman Miller is an advocate for community college issues on Capitol Hill. The Congressman supports partnerships like the one he visited between Labcorp and Alamance Community College (ACC) at the Powell Lab Facility in Burlington. Alamance Community College strives to meet the educational needs of the students while helping to drive workforce development for employers. Partnerships such as these are helping to drive North Carolina’s transition to a new economy with progressive industries.
Headquartered in Burlington, Labcorp is one of the largest employers in both Burlington and Alamance County with a total North Carolina workforce of 4100 employees. The company provides a diverse array of lab evaluation services for medical providers, including drug testing, genetic testing, lab workups, research and drug clinical trials. By providing training facilities, faculty, and job placement to ACC’s biotech program students, Labcorp creates an environment of growth and prosperity for the company as well as Alamance County residents. The company is constructing a new headquarters building in the heart of downtown and is committed to preserving the historic buildings in existence, creating a green space which will bring people back to the downtown area.
GoldToe Moretz Plant Rapid Response Team Meeting, Burlington, NC – GoldToe Moretz has played a role in Alamance County as a sock manufacturer and significant employer since the mid-1980s. The company announced in early January 2008 that they would be closing U.S. operations and transferring production to Mexico and Asia. This closure will impact approximately 430 workers in Burlington.
As a result, Governor Mike Easley deployed a Rapid Response Team from the State Department of Commerce to provide support as the company and its employees make this difficult transition. Congressman Miller is proud to have a staff member actively involved in Rapid Response Team Meetings to ensure that the federal parts of the process work seamlessly with the state government in meeting the needs of these displaced workers. The Rapid Response Team is tasked to coordinate the transition for the company and its employees by providing assistance such as educational opportunities, extended unemployment benefits and other support services. Much of the funding for these programs is supplied by the federal government. As our economy continues to change, we must make sure that our workers have access to programs like Trade Adjustment Assistance and educational programs so they can get back to work at jobs that are comparable to the ones that are gone.
Recent comments by Congressman Miller about the GoldToe Moretz plant closing:
“I am deeply disturbed by the loss of jobs that will result in the closing of the GoldToe Moretz manufacturing site in Burlington. Sock mills have been one of the few remaining competitive sectors in the hard hit US- apparel industry. I will keep in mind the hundreds of workers at Gold Toe who will be forced to find new work. I believe we can do more to preserve these jobs and work to help create new high -paying jobs in North Carolina. I will continue to oppose trade agreements like CAFTA that only accelerate the loss of manufacturing jobs at home.”
“This administration has done a woeful job of standing up for American manufacturing in the world market. A global marketplace and free trade mean nothing if it is not fair trade. When the CAFTA was passed, a commitment was made to protect the interests of the domestic sock industry. Today's news doesn't reflect well on that commitment. During consideration of CAFTA, and since it has become law, I have joined with other members of Congress in writing to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Treasury asking them to honor their promises to protect this industry. I hope they do a better job of listening in the future.”
