Area Development
Tasz Inc., a cork maker, is investing $2.2 million and creating 21 jobs in Lenoir, North Carolina. The One North Carolina Fund is supporting the expansion with a $42,000 grant.

"Caldwell County is a central location for serving the wine industries in the eastern and northeastern U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe," said Dr. Chakra V. Gupta, president and owner of Tasz. "North Carolina has been a leader in manufacturing of extruded plastic parts, therefore an existing skilled work force is available. After evaluating locations in California and Europe, we determined that Caldwell County and Lenoir provided ideal place to establish the Tasz Inc. investment. The assistance and aid of local officials and the Department of Commerce facilitated this decision."

The company will build a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to develop, produce, and market synthetic corks for the wine and spirits industry. Tasz will produce the corks under its NeoCork brand.