A manufacturer of specialty apparel for cyclists this week announced plans to relocate from northern California to western North Carolina and establish a new manufacturing and distribution facility.
The state’s Commerce Department said Kitsbow anticipates investing nearly $900,000 in the facility in Old Fort, North Carolina, about 20 miles east of Asheville. The project is expected to create 53 new jobs.
Kitsbow, founded in 2012, produces shirts, pants, outerwear, and accessories aimed at cyclists and mountain bikers. Company officials said they selected the Old Fort site over 11 competing locations with a history of textile manufacturing due to the area’s “talent, daily shipping access and a spectacular quality of life.”
“I have seen first-hand the resilience and work ethic of the workforce in Appalachia, and that was a major factor in the decision to choose Old Fort in McDowell County for our new lean manufacturing facility,” Kitsbow CEO David Billstrom said in the announcement.
As of March, the company manufactured 50% of its products in the USA at its California location and is hoping to increase that percentage with this transition to their new facility.
The company is eligible for a $200,000 state grant which will be matched by local governments if it meets its hiring and investment goals.
