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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

TMG & Haartz Solutions Plans Bostic, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations

07/02/2025
TMG & Haartz Solutions, a new joint venture to supply synthetic leather materials for automotive interiors, plans to establish operations in Bostic, North Carolina. The $51 million project is expected to create 125 jobs over the next five years in Rutherford County.

The company’s new manufacturing facility will be located at the site previously used for the Milliken Golden Valley plant.

“Our journey began with a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, values passed down through generations of the Gonçalves family,” said Isabel Furtado, Board Member at TMG Group & Board Member and CEO at TMG Automotive. “From our roots in Portugal to this new chapter in the United States, we have always believed in building relationships based on trust, respect, and shared purpose. The relationship between Gonçalves and Haartz families is more than a business alliance—it is a story of mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for the future of mobility.”

The project will be supported, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by more than $352.59 million. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,463,000, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation targets.

"Collaboration is one of our core values at Haartz, and our relationship with the Gonçalves family and TMG Automotive is a shining example of how shared values, mutual respect, and family heritage can transcend business,” noted Eric Haartz, CEO at The Haartz Corporation. “What began as a business relationship has grown into a deep bond between our families — one that continues to inspire innovation and lasting impact. We are honored to take this next step together, bringing our combined strengths to an exciting new chapter in the United States.”

The project's projected return on investment of public dollars is 125 per cent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost, the state receives $2.25 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

“North Carolina is the number one manufacturing state in the Southeastern United States, and our leadership has been noticed by companies around the world,” added Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “From our world-class transportation networks to our concentration of workers with manufacturing experience, we can offer companies like TMG Haartz Solutions the right ingredients for success.”

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) on the project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Commerce Department’s Division of Workforce Solutions, Isothermal Community College, Rutherford County, and Rutherford County Economic Development.

TMG Haartz Solutions was formed by The Haartz Corporation, a company specializing in engineered and designed convertible toppings and interior surface materials, and TMG Automotive (TMG), a business unit of the TMG Group focusing on automotive interior surface materials, notably synthetic leathers.

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