
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990                   TAG: 9003091859
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON MARTINSVILLE PLANT

Construction has begun on a 45,000-square-foot production facility for PadTech Inc. at Bowles Industrial Park just outside the city limits.

PadTech President Pierre Dionne and business and government leaders from Martinsville and Henry County held a ground-breaking ceremony Thursday.

The company, which manufactures foam padding for the furniture industry, expects to create about 56 jobs when the facility is at full production, said Joe Gero, executive director for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.

At the start, about 20 jobs, including 12 in manufacturing, will be available. Gero said PadTech expects to begin production at the 6.5 acre site around midsummer.

When completed, $1.8 million will have been invested in the new facility. Annual payroll is expected to reach $1.3 million, Gero said. - Staff report

by CNB