The article discusses the workforce initiatives undertaken by Pillowtex Corp., a textile manufacturer to convert displaced workers into coveted employees as it reopens by the end of 2007 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. During the summer of 2003, Pillowtex closed its doors leaving about 4000 people out of work. It is stated that retraining employees to make a smooth transition from a graying, labor intensive industry into an alternative, labor hungry sector is one of the greatest challenges workforce officials are facing. Meanwhile, with the advent of numerous federal and state workforce initiatives, attempts are started to transform lost labor into an asset. Among its initiatives in North Carolina include quarterly grants for incumbent training offered to employees in different industries.