Steel Fabrication Manufacturer to Expand in Surry County | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

    Raleigh, NC     Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that Ottenweller Company will expand its steel fabrication manufacturing operation in Surry County. The company plans to create 20 new jobs and invest more than $1.5 million over the next three years in Mount Airy.

    "Ottenweller is a great example of the growth and success that many companies are experiencing in North Carolina," said Governor Pat McCrory. "We will continue to improve our economy by working with existing businesses and providing jobs for residents in Surry County and across our great state."

    Ottenweller is a 100- year- old, family-owned metal fabricator based in Fort Wayne, Indiana with additional plants in Indianapolis and Mount Airy. The company, with 60 employees in Mount Airy, is regarded as a world class leader in the fabrication of complex structures requiring cutting, welding, forming, machining, painting and assembly of modules that are used on large construction equipment and off road trucks.

    Ottenweller's subsidiary company, Garrity Tool Co. LLC, provides high precision machining capabilities for the defense, medical, and aviation industries as well as demanding commercial applications.

    "On behalf of my family and our 300 associates, we would like to thank the people of Mount Airy and the NC Department of Commerce for being great partners as we continue to grow good-paying jobs and prepare our plant for new customers and expanded business," said Michael Ottenweller, President of Ottenweller.

    "North Carolina's workforce is renowned for its array of talents," said Sharon Decker, N.C. Secretary of Commerce. "With their cutting edge technology and new developments in manufacturing, Ottenweller Company is a perfect match for this talent."

    Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $30,571 plus benefits. The Surry County average annual wage is $30,456.

    The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $50,000. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

    "Companies like Ottenweller know that our state has the highly-skilled workforce needed to compete in a global economy," said Sen. Shirley Randleman. "It is always encouraging when existing companies choose to reinvest here in Surry County."

    "Ottenweller's decision to bring 20 good-paying manufacturing jobs to Mt. Airy is great news for the hard-working folks of Surry County," said Rep. Sarah Stevens. "We're grateful that Ottenweller is reinvesting here in North Carolina and we're looking forward to working with them for many years to come."

    Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Surry County, City of Mount Airy, Surry County Economic Development Partnership, Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments/Workforce Development and Workforce Solutions Mount Airy.

    For more information about Ottenweller, including job opportunities, visit www.ottenweller.com.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
     govpress@nc.gov