A lot of companies have relocated or expanded in High Point in recent years but not a lot of Brazilian companies have. 

Of course, High Point welcomes companies from all over the world.  This week, Fitesa – a Brazilian company with a North American headquarters in Simpsonville, South Carolina – announced that it’s expanding its business operations in High Point at 200 S. West Point Ave. and investing $18 million in new machinery, new equipment and building improvements.

The other good news for the county is that the company expects to create up to 22 new jobs with the growth.

Last year, Fitesa acquired Fiber Dynamics, a High Point-based maker of disinfectant wipes, filtration devices, face masks and other products used in the medical and automotive industries among others. 

The site of the coming expansion is near High Point’s “Small-scale Manufacturing Target Area” and is in one of High Point’s three opportunity zones – areas of the city that offer special incentives to attract businesses. Those zones are economically challenged spots where the city is trying to jump-start economic growth and job creation.

High Point Economic Development Corp. Director Sandy Dunbeck has only been in charge of that organization for a few months but there have already been several very nice economic development announcements for High Point.  Dunbeck said this is another project that brings home the message that High Point and Guilford County are very good places to do business.

“A project such as this by a company like Fitesa continues to speak to the strengths of High Point and Guilford County as leaders in manufacturing,” she stated in a Friday, May 14 press release announcing the expansion.

Dunbeck is also the 2021 Director for the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance – a group of elected leaders, business leaders and economic development officials who are working together to attract new business to Guilford County.

 “Guilford County Economic Development Alliance’s tag line is ‘You can make it here,” Dunbeck said.  “We are pleased that Fitesa has chosen to grow and make their product in High Point while providing excellent jobs for our citizens.”