Matthew Davis

Nov.23rd 2010

Eng.1101

Problem Solving Topic Proposal

The problem I intend to write about for my problem solving essay has to deal with a

problem that hits me, my family, and my hometown of Belmont, NC (about 20 minutes from here)

pretty hard. It’s a problem that I’ve dealt with within my family for a few years now. That issue is

the textile industry in Belmont, NC. At one time Belmont was thriving in the world of textiles, 5 or 6

plants within the town itself, and they were all thriving until about 5 years ago…

The plants then slowly started to shut down, some even going overseas because it’s cheaper

every way you look at it, including the one my father worked at R.L. Stowe Mills. That whole

company went under and Belmont went from having 5 or 6 plants, to only one. It hit all the people

within the industry hard, including my family. My dad had to go to our nearby state of South

Carolina to find work and I mean it wasn’t a big deal considering we live almost on the state line but

still… It just sucks.

So easily this has to be the topic I have to choose for my discussion. I just want to find a

reasonable solution for this issue because it affects people in hometown dearly; I mean some

individuals are still looking for a job… So what I hope to accomplish within my essay is to discuss

ways that textiles can become Belmont’s thriving career again. Maybe show how committed people

are to the industry and show them that the old plants shouldn’t just be standing there rotting.

Instead they should open them back up and use them to help the industry grow again. Maybe even
grow more plants. There are many solutions to this problem and I hope that people will just listen

to my essay and realize that the citizens of Belmont are struggling and without textiles they’ll

continue to struggle.