Changes in the textile and manufacturing industries have resulted in many plant closings and job losses in Galax, Carroll County and the surrounding areas over the past several years. Nationally, the news hasn’t been any better as the current economic downturn has wreaked havoc on the automotive, banking and many other industries.

That’s why the news coming out of Carroll County on June 29 was so welcome and refreshing. Obviously, attracting new business is one of the top priorities for any locality. But being able to retain one is just as important. It certainly beats the socks off the alternative. Some will undoubtedly grumble that the county spent $280,000 to assist Mohawk in finding a solution to the power sags and outages that has plagued the company over the past decade. We’re betting that you probably won’t hear too many complaints from the 154 employees at Mohawk that still have a job, however. The family members of those employees probably aren’t too upset by the investment, either.

One has to wonder where AEP was during all this. You’d think they would have to take some sort of accountability here, or at least make an effort to help an industrial customer that uses an enormous amount of energy. Alas, there are only so many hours in a day, and the company has been tied up quite a bit recently fighting for round after round of rate increases.

Regardless, in these uncertain economic times, another day without any job loss is a blessing. When you can lock up job security for at least 105 full-time employees over three-quarters of a decade, it is truly a joyous occasion. Thankfully Carroll County stepped up in this case to avoid yet another story of unemployment.