China is continuing its massive poverty alleviation drive, hoping to eradicate extreme poverty across the country this year. One of the worries for authorities, however, is how poverty-stricken areas will cope once support structures are taken away. But in the Jingle County in northern China's Shanxi Province, they're happy that it won't be a problem.

Wei Zhongwen, 30, works at the Jiuguan Garment Factory, which was built right in the residential area where she lives. She used to be a migrant worker in another part of China for two years. But when she came across an opportunity to return home, she grabbed it with both hands.

"I can make more money working outside. But working here is more convenient and I can also look after my child. And as I do better and better in the job, my salary will grow higher, almost the same as when I work outside," said Wei.

The workshop where Wei works now has over 160 employees, more than 60 percent of them used to struggle with poverty. But by working here, they have lifted themselves out of that predicament, and now make 2,000 to 4,000 yuan (about 285 to 570 U.S. dollars) a month.

Song Yuxia, 38, another employee, has been her family's only breadwinner since her husband fell ill. She's also thrilled to have a regular income. "Here I can make over 3,000 yuan a month. I really need the salary to pay for the schooling of my children," Song said.

The factory sits at a relocated residential area for poverty-stricken villagers in Jingle County. It's one of 29 clothing manufacturers that have set up shop thanks to favorable policies and subsidies by the local government.

Wang Dan, manager of the Jingle Jiuguan Garment Factory, said the workshop was provided by the local government rent-free for three years. "They also subsidized our training programs and let us use the electricity and heat at a civil-use price."

The benefits are more than just that. "Our headquarters were facing a shortage of labor as the business grew. But after we opened this branch factory here, we don't lack labor for our increasing orders anymore," Wang said.

Located in a mountainous region, Jingle County used to be a national poverty-stricken county. Many villagers were forced to go to the big cities, where they found work in garment factories. And they became quite good at the job.

However, in recent years, the local government has been encouraging them to come back to work and even help train others.

Liu Baiqing, deputy director of the Poverty Alleviation Office of Jingle County, said that the clothes-making business has played an important role in their poverty alleviation efforts. "It has brought in many unemployed women workers. Through working, they've realized getting out of poverty is not about taking, but also about giving, using their own hands to make a living."

Liu said although the county has lifted itself out of poverty, they will continue to build up local industry, so as to provide more jobs for villagers. He said he hopes this will eventually boost the economic development of the entire region.