Unit One: Past, Present, Future Industries of NC
Textiles: Creation of fabric/cloth out of original (cotton) or man-made (synthetic) fibers.
Ex: clothing, furniture upholstery, curtains, car fabric
-Industry first started in North Carolina, early 1800's.
-Textile mills were primarily worked by young girls/boys.
-Working conditions in the mills prompted child labor laws and improved safety.
-1923: Burlington Industries Opened (now known as Burlington Coat Factory) in Burlington, NC (Piedmont
Region)
-1970's Burlington was the WORLD'S largest textiles operation.
*After many years of decline, Textiles is rebuilding to a thriving North Carolina industry.
However, during the 1990's
many textile plants (especially in the southeastern United States) closed due to N.A.F.T.A.
N.A.F.T.A: North American Free Trade Agreement: Came into law January 1, 1994 allowing countries of North America to
send trade (jobs) to other countries, with cheaper labor forces, without tax penalty.
For Example:
Burlington: ag
Mills
Tobacco:
"
Tobacco is king"
Although still a profitable crop grown in NC, tobacco is not grown at the rate it was
Prior to the mid 1990's.
This is because of the Tobacco Quota Buyout Program in
which the government paid farmers to grow crops other than tobacco.
Golden Leaf Foundation
-Created in 1999 by the NC Legislature from money that was part of a settlement between cigarette manufacturers and
the government.
-Non-profit foundation that awards grants to help long-term with NC economy.
-Help areas of NC that are/were tobacco dependent, poor, and/or rural.
-Priority areas:
agriculture, job creation, and workforce preparedness.
