Injection molder Impact Plastics Inc. is launching a $1.3 million expansion in Erwin to meet increased demand for parts in the auto industry.
The work will also bring 83 new jobs to the plant. Unicoi County officials are also improving a railroad spur in Erwin, Tenn., to aid Impact and other businesses in the community's Riverview Industrial Park.
The expansion was the focus of a June 18 visit to the plant by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who praised Impact on his Twitter stream as a sign of the growth possible within smaller companies from the state's growing automotive industry.
During the past 10 years, Tennessee has seen both Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Volkswagen AG open new operations in the state, while General Motors Co. invested more than $61 million to retool its Spring Hill, Tenn., plant, reopening production there in 2012.