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Mills Manufacturing, the Woodfin-based manufacturer of military parachutes, has announced a joint venture with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and the North Carolina Employment Security Commission to train 60-80 new employees. The training program is being funded by appropriations to Asheville Buncombe Community Technical College from the North Carolina legislature.The expansion has been necessitated by the role the U. S. military has undertaken in Afghanistan delivering humanitarian supplies for the Afghanistan civilian population, and providing the critical parachute equipment for U. S. paratroopers. Mills Manufacturing is the leading military parachute manufacturer in the world, producing the majority of all U. S. military parachutes, and providing military parachutes for over 65 countries throughout the world. Ernest Mills founded Mills Manufacturing in 1935 in New York City, but relocated to Woodfin, North Carolina, in 1952. Mills Manufacturing played a vital role in the production of World War II military parachutes. When visiting Mills Manufacturing, one quickly notices letters that are framed and hanging on the walls in the reception area. One of these letters of particular note is from General Dwight D Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, thanking Mills Manufacturing for its superb job of producing military parachutes for the U. S. Military operations in the European war theater. Other letters include those from some of the U. S. Airborne Divisions also thanking Mills Manufacturing for producing the high quality parachutes on which their lives depend each day.
Jim Turner, president of Mills Manufacturing, (pictured on the right standing with John Oswald, vice president of manufacturing operations) says, "At a time when you hear so much bad economic news, we are very proud to announce this expansion in which we are adding up to 80 new positions. Our business has been thriving, primarily due to the humanitarian effort by the U. S government to deliver food, blankets and other critical supplies to the Afghan people and the use of our parachutes by the U. S. military forces. We have good jobs available for people who want to work hard, and we will provide job training through our partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and the North Carolina Employment Security Commission." North Carolina State Senator Steve Metcalf says, "The funding for this training program involving Mills Manufacturing, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and the North Carolina Employment Security Commission has been provided through appropriations passed by the North Carolina State Legislature. I am very proud that some of Western North Carolina's hard earned tax dollars are being returned to our community in such a productive and beneficial jobs training program." Those interested in applying for positions at Mills Manufacturing should go by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission located at 48 Grove Street in Asheville, NC, or go by Mills Manufacturing in Woodfin at the New Bridge Exit on Weaverville Highway. Interviewers who are fluent in Spanish and Russian will assist applicants who do not speak English. The phone number at the North Carolina Employment Security Commission is 828-251-6200. The phone number at Mills Manufacturing is 828-645-3061. Mills Manufacturing will be hiring and will begin training the 60-80 new employees immediately, and hopes to have all of the hiring completed within the next ninety days.
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Current employees (see top photo) at Mills Manufacturing realize that they are not only earning a living while working at Mills Manufacturing, they are also making an important contribution to the U. S. military and humanitarian efforts throughout the world, particularly in Afghanistan during the current war against terrorism.