Mount Rogers IDC Receives Joint IDA Special Recognition Award

WYTHEVILLE—The Joint Industrial Development Authority presented its Industry Special Recognition Award to the Mount Rogers Industrial and Developmental Center (IDC) at the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce annual membership dinner held at the Wytheville Meeting Center on November 15, 2010. The IDC’s Wythe Bland Center, located in the Fairview Industrial Park, provides employment for 72 disabled individuals. In addition, a total of 19 IDC staff are employed at the WytheBland Center. While providing employment and growth opportunities for disabled citizens, the IDC also manufactures products for the federal government and provides manufacturing services for industries and businesses in the region. The Wythe-Bland IDC Center has successful partnerships with Hutchinson Sealing Systems, Klöckner Pentaplast, Somic America, Gatorade, and Wordsprint.

Earlier this year, the IDC secured a contract for and began production of the Advanced Combat Shirt for use by the military. The Advanced Combat Shirt is a modular, flameresistant uniform shirt that is worn by military personnel in combat operations. The current contract calls for 12,000 units per month. Different components of the shirt are produced at each of the three IDC facilities (i.e., Wytheville, Hillsville, and Atkins). In this way, the IDC facilities work together to meet customer needs. Through this project, virtually all of the IDC employees affected by the Acument closure have been called back to work.

The Joint IDA will present its Industry Tenure Awards (recognized in five year increments) for Wythe County industries at a luncheon to be held in January 2011 at the Wytheville Meeting Center.