STI – Kings Plush, Inc. Earns Outstanding Employer Award
On October 17, 2022, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
RALEIGH, N.C. - Governor Roy Cooper announced NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development. The recipients were recognized on Thursday, Oct. 13, during a ceremony held in Greensboro as part of the 35th annual NCWorks Partnership Conference.
“These award winners have overcome adversity and inspired us with their determination to gain new career skills and expand opportunities for others,” said Governor Cooper. “For North Carolina to be ‘First in Talent’ we must work to remove barriers to the great paying jobs being created in our state so that all people have opportunities for success.”
The NCWorks Partnership Conference, organized by the N.C. Department of Commerce, brought together almost 700 workforce development professionals from across the state, for the first in-person event of its kind since 2019. Attendees represented labor, state and federal government, education, community-based organizations, community colleges and the private sector.
The Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction honor outstanding examples from the state’s workforce development system - including the students and jobseekers who receive training, the professionals who provide career services, and the employers and other organizations that support a skilled workforce.
One such award went to:
STI – Kings Plush, Inc. of Kings Mountain: Outstanding Employer. STI Fabrics, a local, family-owned business that manufactures and distributes one of the most in-demand performance fabrics in the home furnishings industry, is a major employer and community partner in workforce development. For several years, the company has worked with the Gaston Correctional Center’s work release program to provide a variety of job opportunities for inmates. Several of these workers have joined STI as full-time employees after they reentered the community. In March 2022, STI sponsored a successful local event with the N.C. Department of Public Safety as an example of the company’s commitment to the justice-involved population. Called “In Their Shoes: A Prison-to-Community Simulation,” the event included participants from community colleges, resource agencies, local industries, the judicial system, community corrections, and chambers of commerce. The simulation was designed to show the public how difficult it is to navigate society upon release from jail or prison. Meanwhile, during the past year, STI has opened up opportunities for high school students to work part-time. This allows them to become knowledgeable about manufacturing and could lead to full-time positions in the future. STI also offers apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
