Ron Roach, president of Contempora Fabrics Inc., and Steve Hawkins, president of America Knits LLC, say they have known and respected each other for about two decades – and now, they’re turning their friendship into a partnership to boost the made-in-America movement. Thursday, Roach and Hawkins announced to eTC that they are forming a strategic partnership between 53-year-old Contempora Fabrics, a circular knitter based in Lumberton, N.C., and America Knits, a six-year-old cut-and-sew and apparel manufacturer based in Swainsboro, Ga. This collaboration marks a significant step toward bolstering domestic textile production and fostering economic growth in these two small towns in the Southeast U.S.