Impact Plastics

Impact Plastics, Incorporated is a family-owned business that was founded on December 1, 1986, in Erwin, Tennessee. We service more than twenty-five (25) original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), ranging from small companies to multibillion-dollar corporations.

On September 27, 2024, Impact Plastics, Inc sustained catastrophic damage due to unprecedented flooding from Hurricane Helene. In a matter of minutes, 37 years of hard work was gone.

Due to the historical flooding, with a water flow rate of nearly 1.2 million gallons per second, Impact Plastics, Incorporated sustained over 8 feet of water and accumulated more than 5 feet of mud and debris. We are still cleaning the plant and have begun replacing the outer shell of the 115k square foot building. The following is a snapshot of what was lost on September 27, 2024:

• 67 jobs lost
• $2.9 million in lost revenue for Q4 2024, estimated 2024 annual revenue of $9.6 million.
• $3.86 million in lost revenue for Q1 2025 plus 1 month of Q2 2025
• $1.851 million in lost raw materials, work-in-process (WIP) and finished goods inventory.
• All (18) injection molding machines/auxiliary equipment $8.894 million
• All Tool shop equipment/assembly/test equipment/Quality Control department and lab/Fiberglass department/booths/Newly established assembly department/Paint /Finish department $3.281 million
• Plant Metal Sheeting/Offices 1.2 million
• All utilities (electric, water, sewer, gas, fiber)
• Industrial Drive is gone.

On September 28, 2024, while stilling trying to process this catastrophic event to our community, Impact Plastics, Incorporated was determined to be back stronger by building back our 115,000 square foot facility, adding new jobs and customers to the community. So, the work began with updating another space that Impact Plastics, Incorporated owns in Erwin to establish a temporary homebase for our employees and customers.

On November 5, 2024, it felt like a gift from the heavens when Impact Plastics received Sandy’s email with information about the NDWG Grant. At that time, we had already rehired 10 employees to begin the cleanup ourselves. We weren’t just asking for help- we were fighting to restore jobs and keep the Town of Erwin and Unicoi County strong and resilient.

When we needed support the most, the First Tennessee Development District team was there for us. This grant was the only funding we had received until August 2025. Without it, Impact Plastics would have been forced to close its doors by March 2025 and lay off the employees we had just brought back.

We are deeply grateful for being awarded this grant.”

- Amie O. Hutchison, Vice President, Impact Plastics, Inc.