Another textile company plans to expand its Richmond County operations, offering some measure of economic relief for a region with a jobless rate above the state average.

Knit-Rite will modernize and expand its factory in Ellerbe that makes specialty socks for diabetics and other medial hosiery products, Gov. Bev Perdue's office announced this morning. The company will receive a $24,000 state grant if it creates 24 new jobs paying average annual wages of $22,533.

The Kansas-based company already employs 44 at its operations in Ellerbe, about 90 miles southwest of Raleigh.

Last week, Richmond Specialty Yarns announced plans to expand its Ellerbe facility and add 135 jobs during the next three years. That company already employs 140 at the factory, which produces specialized yarn for the military, medical and furniture markets.

Richmond County's jobless rate was 13.2 percent in September, the N.C. Employment Security Commission reported. That's higher than the latest state rate of 10.8 percent.

A yarn company based in Richmond County plans to expand its operations and add 135 jobs during the next three years.

Richmond Specialty Yarns will produce specialized yarn for the military, medical and furniture markets. The company already employs 140 people at its operations in Ellerbe, about 90 miles southwest of Raleigh.

The company is eligible to receive a $150,000 state grant if it creates the new jobs and retains the existing ones, Gov. Bev Perdue's office announced today.

The news is a rare example of a textile company expanding in this state during the recession. The company's manufacturing capacity and the stability of its workforce were among the factors that led to the planned expansion, said Jean Parenteau, president of FilSpec. The Canadian yarn company recently bought a controlling interest in Richmond Specialty Yarns.

The new jobs will pay average annual wages of $25,931.