Rendering of 9/11 Memorial (Courtesy http://www.national911memorial.org)
A U.S. Congresswoman from North Carolina wants the National September 11 Memorial to reconsider North Carolina Granite Corporation's bid to supply granite for the New York City memorial.
According to a news release from her office, fifth-district Rep. Virginia Foxx, in a speech before the U.S. House on Friday said:
"Mr. Speaker, it came to my attention this week that North Carolina Granite Corporation, a small business in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, was recently informed that it lost a bid to supply cut granite for the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.
"Unfortunately, news outlets reported that this business, which employs 135 people in the Fifth Congressional District, lost the contract to bidders in Italy and Africa."
The Mount Airy company had put in a bid to cut granite brought in from Canada, but company officials learned the contract had been awarded to an Italian company that will cut African granite for the memorial.
Vice President Carlos Goad said they got the word from Port Morris Tile, the stone setter for the memorial project based in New York.
"We were told in writing by Port Morris, the stone setter, that they had been instructed to purchase the granite from the African company and have it fabricated in Italy," he said.
The National September 11th Memorial told FOX8 that no official bid decisions will be announced until mid-January, but FOX8 has obtained documents showing Port Morris Tile has already put in the overseas order.
"Mr. Speaker, this is very disturbing. I hope that the decision-makers at the memorial will reconsider their decision to ship this important work overseas," Foxx said before the U.S. House.
The North Carolina Granite Corporation has worked on other memorials, including the Kitty Hawk Memorial and the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
According to a news release from her office, fifth-district Rep. Virginia Foxx, in a speech before the U.S. House on Friday said:
"Mr. Speaker, it came to my attention this week that North Carolina Granite Corporation, a small business in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, was recently informed that it lost a bid to supply cut granite for the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.
"Unfortunately, news outlets reported that this business, which employs 135 people in the Fifth Congressional District, lost the contract to bidders in Italy and Africa."
The Mount Airy company had put in a bid to cut granite brought in from Canada, but company officials learned the contract had been awarded to an Italian company that will cut African granite for the memorial.
Vice President Carlos Goad said they got the word from Port Morris Tile, the stone setter for the memorial project based in New York.
"We were told in writing by Port Morris, the stone setter, that they had been instructed to purchase the granite from the African company and have it fabricated in Italy," he said.
The National September 11th Memorial told FOX8 that no official bid decisions will be announced until mid-January, but FOX8 has obtained documents showing Port Morris Tile has already put in the overseas order.
"Mr. Speaker, this is very disturbing. I hope that the decision-makers at the memorial will reconsider their decision to ship this important work overseas," Foxx said before the U.S. House.
The North Carolina Granite Corporation has worked on other memorials, including the Kitty Hawk Memorial and the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
