HanesBrands of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, announced Friday that it will expand its manufacturing facility in Clarksville, spending $1.4 million on renovations and new equipment and adding 120 new jobs.
The move will bring the publicly traded clothing manufacturer’s total employment in Clarksville to 570. The company said the 120 new jobs will average about $39,000 per year in wages and benefits, which would add $4.7 million per year to the local economy.
The plant, which the company says is one of the largest hosiery knitting facilities in the world, makes sheer hosiery and seamless bras. The expansion comes as the company moves one of its manufacturing lines back to the United States from Honduras.
“We are delighted to be able to add jobs at our Clarksville plant,” Javier Chacon, Hanes senior vice president of global operations, said. “It is not easy for a U.S. plant to compete with offshore competitors, but the capabilities of our plant workforce and management team in Clarksville to continuously adapt, automate and improve efficiency is a testament to the resiliency of this facility since it opened in 1988.”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined local and company leaders in Clarksville on Friday for the expansion announcement. It was first since economic development announcement since taking office earlier this month.
“As companies continue to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., we are committed to making Arkansas a leader in job creation and manufacturing,” Hutchinson said. “Thanks to HanesBrands for its decision to make this significant expansion in Arkansas. The fact the company chose to expand this specific facility demonstrates the quality of our workforce in Clarksville.”
Founded in 1901, Hanes is ranked No. 530 on the Fortune 1000 list and has about 56,000 employees in more than 25 countries. The company says 90 percent of its products are made in company-owned plants or those of dedicated contractors.
HanesBrands is set to report fourth-quarter earnings next week. Last year, the company purchased the 93-year-old Maidenform women’s underwear brand and DBApparel of France, which makes bras, hosiery and underwear primarily for sale in Europe.