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Just ran across this old post from @John Morris while looking for pics of Lew's chopsticks... Maybe you would like to know "some of the rest of the story"... John Morris Master Carpenter Administrator 4,205 13,410 posts Profile Information Posted July 16, 2011 · Report post I was watching the news in the shop just a few minutes ago, and I saw a feature episode about a fellow that is making Chop Sticks and selling them to China! What a cool entrepreneurial spirit this guys has. Imagine, making chop sticks in America and selling them in China! Something just very entertaining about this story, isn't there an old saying that goes something like, "If a man could corner the market on chop sticks and sell them to the Chinese, he'd be a billionaire" or something like that. Apparently as the story goes, Georgia has a huge supply of sourgum and poplar, the most perfect chop stick making lumber in the world, and lumber that China is in short supply of. Way to go to small business man! John Morris The Patriot Woodworker Like this Go to top John Morris Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker! I cannot say for certain, as I did not see this news clip that John refers to. The timing is about correct however. In Americus, Georgia (about 60 miles from me) a "Chinese entrepreneur" proposed opening a chop stick manufacturing facility. I do not know how Americus was selected or where the initial business inquiry originated. There is not a lot of poplar trees in this region; maybe sweet gum is kin to it? Sorghum is a grain crop and a good bit is grown in this area for cattle and hog feed. Now, please keep in mind that in 2011 the country was recovering from a pretty severe economic recession. Places like Atlanta were faring ok, but in rural places like Americus there was very little new business coming to town. Cities and counties were pretty much in an economic war with their neighbors in an attempt to lure in new businesses. For the right business; property tax concessions, cheap building rental, employee training - even state grants (free money) could be had. A manufacturing facility used to be the crown jewel of economic development - you can bet the competition for a business like this would be serious stuff. Does this sound like it could lead to anything going wrong? It sometimes did - and our chop stick dream goes in this category. A suitable building was found, about a 25,000 sq. ft. facility in the Americus-Sumter County industrial park. Machinery & Equipment was ordered, some of it even made it into the building. The "Chinese entrepeneur"? He vanished! Some few months later y friend that owns an auction company was contracted to sell off the contents of the building and recover what could be had. Not a lot of demand for chop stick making M&E. Them's the facts that I know about our chop stick maker in Americus. How much in the way of incentives were offered, or how many suitcases of cash he left town with I do not know. At the time of the auction the whereabouts of the guy was unknown. I do not know if they ever tracked him down. And now you know, some of the rest of the story... Cal
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