UPDATED: 551 jobs, $25 million in investments coming to Black Mountain

Asheville-based Avadim Technologies announced an expansion to Black Mountain. Company officials say the move will create 551 jobs and include $25 million in investments.

Asheville-based Avadim Technologies is expanding to Black Mountain in a move company officials say will create 551 jobs and bring more than $25 million in capital investment.

Ben Teague, executive director of Economic Development Coalition, says it’s the largest single job announcement during his tenure, and possibly the largest in the history of Buncombe County.

County Chairman David Gantt concurs about its significance. “It’s one of, if not the biggest, economic packages we’ve had since I’ve been a commissioner. It’s truly monumental with no end in sight for future growth,” he says.

In regard to that future growth, Gantt tells Xpress the projected 551 jobs will likely be surpassed. “That’s a low estimate. That’s the minimum. We think it will be a lot more. We’re glad to help them get there,” he says.

Teague says beyond job creation, it will help the economic vitality of nearby towns as future employees spend money in the Swannanoa Valley area.

Long-term, he says it lays the groundwork for attracting new business. “It’s an exciting day because it’s a catalyst for the future and what that growth could mean for the eastern side of Buncombe County,” says Teague.

According to its website, the company “is a life sciences company developing a new class of biologic solutions based on Pathogenesis Based Therapies, all of which work to optimize the stratum corneum, also impacting integumentary functions and the associated reactive tissue.”

One of its products, Combat One, designed for military personnel is described as: “The total body safe hygiene system that not only helps the troops stay clean in austere environments, it elevates their effectiveness. By keeping the troops clean, protecting their skin, reducing water loss and helping support the skin’s natural defensive properties we help keep your troops operating at peak levels.”

Governor Pat McCrory attended the announcement in Black Mountain. “Avadim Technologies’ significant expansion adds an exciting new dimension to our biotechnology industry and to the economy of western North Carolina,” said McCrory via a press release sent to Xpress.

The expansion comes with a state economic development incentive known as a Job Development Investment Grant. Avadim Technologies would be eligible for up to $4.9 million in reimbursements over a period of 12 years if it meets job creation and investment goals.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, “JDIGs reimburse new and expanding companies a portion of the newly created tax-base with the goal of increasing the overall revenue benefit to the state of North Carolina. By law, JDIG projects must result in a net revenue inflow to the state treasury over the life of the award.”

Avadim Technologies will also be getting local economic incentives, if it hits certain benchmarks. “If [economic development incentives] are carefully drawn, like the ones Buncombe County has, it’s very appropriate… The keys are it’s got to be realistic and it can’t be paid out until the actual goals are met,” said Gantt. “Some communities jump the gun and pay the money before the goals are met and you run the risk that things may not work out.”

Jon Creighton, the county’s planning director, tells Xpress the county will give Avadim Technologies $881,960 if it invests $25 million and creates 551 jobs. He says it would likely be paid out over the course of five years.

Gantt says commissioners were unanimous in their decision to provide incentives for this project.

Teague says jobs will range from hourly to executive positions and says it’s his understanding hiring for some of the new positions will be underway soon.

Avadim Technologies currently employs about 100 people at its Thompson Street location alongside the Swannanoa River in Biltmore Village, and says its clients range from the Department of Defense to professional athletes.

The expansion is set to take place at 195 Access Road, across Interstate 40 from the Ingles Market distribution center, and is set to be complete in 2020. The site will be home to Avadim Technology’s new corporate headquarters and will also include research and development, manufacturing and distribution operations.

Master plan for the Black Mountain Commerce Park, located at 195 Access Road. The sit plan includes Adavim Technologies' recent expansion and officials are hopeful it will soon attract more new business.
Master plan for the Black Mountain Commerce Park, located at 195 Access Road. The site plan includes Avadim Technologies’ recent expansion and officials are hopeful it will soon attract more new business.
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About Dan Hesse
I grew up outside of Atlanta and moved to WNC in 2001 to attend Montreat College. After college, I worked at NewsRadio 570 WWNC as an anchor/reporter and covered Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners starting in 2004. During that time I also completed WCU's Master of Public Administration program. You can reach me at dhesse@mountainx.com.

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31 thoughts on “UPDATED: 551 jobs, $25 million in investments coming to Black Mountain

  1. Negrodamus

    Know these folks. Remember when they were just a hole in the wall. All I can say is wow. Just wow. Consider yourself very blessed if you get on with this company. They are great folks. Google Theraworx, pHuel 5.0. Amazing products. Totally pwns MRSA infections.

      • Negrodamus

        I don’t know why the article only focused on Combat One. That application is relatively recent, and I wasn’t aware that it had much significance. Theraworx has been their mainstay from the beginning. Reduces certain hospital acquired infections to near zero with no bad side effects. Revolutionary.

  2. HRH

    Notice, if you will, that Avadim is MOVING OUT of Asheville to Black Mountain! Smart!

    • bsummers

      If you hate this town so much, why do you stay here, Fred Caudle? Are you saying that Avadim is smarter than you are?

      • HRH

        YES! Im a fool to keep paying all these inflated CITY taxes with NOTHING in return.

      • Employers have more reason to be in the suburbs than residents because when employers move to the suburbs, commuting miles and fuel is reduced, but when individuals move out, commuting miles usually increases.

    • Negrodamus

      Why pay city taxes? Continental (big plant in Mills River by the airport; formerly ITT Teves) started in Asheville and moved to Henderson County. At least Avadim is staying in Buncombe county. They are totally homegrown,

    • NFB

      An expansion like this takes a whole lot of acreage — the type that there is not that much left of inside the city limits.

      • bsummers

        And whatever property IS available, I doubt an industrial concern wants to try to bid against the hotel/condo sharks buying up every lot in town.

      • Deplorable Infidel

        the ‘planet’ does not need saving … only the delusional climate changer infidels

  3. Don Talley

    Will Black Mountain attemp to annex?
    Is so, will NC Genl Assemb pass law dissallowing this annexation?
    Will DOT bump up plans for new i40 interchange?
    Will Blue Ridge Rd expand to 4 lanes to handle increaesed traffic?

    All of these issues have caused deep divisions and heated arguments in the past.

    Buckle Up…its gonna be bumpy road ahead

  4. Lulz

    Bravo for being a company that invest without the bribes that government gives out.

    • NFB

      Evidently you missed this in the article:

      “The expansion comes with a state economic development incentive known as a Job Development Investment Grant. Avadim Technologies would be eligible for up to $4.9 million in reimbursements over a period of 12 years if it meets job creation and investment goals.”

      And this:

      “Jon Creighton, the county’s planning director, tells Xpress the county will give Avadim Technologies $881,960 if it invests $25 million and creates 551 jobs. He says it would likely be paid out over the course of five years.

      Gantt says commissioners were unanimous in their decision to provide incentives for this project.”

      • Negrodamus

        I think Lulz’s point was that Avadim didn’t rely on government grants to start their business. They bootstrapped it with their own sweat equity..

        • bsummers

          Uh… that’s what Lulz meant? I don’t think so. Unless you’re telling us you & he are run by the same puppetmaster?

  5. Scott

    Does anybody know where one can find a higher resolution version of the Master Park Plan map found at the end of this article? It’s difficult to see details and read text with the version in the article.

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