Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Hewitt Associates, one of the world’s largest providers of human resources outsourcing and consulting services, plans to add 463 jobs to its Charlotte workforce over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a Job Development Investment Grant.
“Creating jobs is my number one priority. Hewitt’s decision to expand in Mecklenburg County means new jobs for hundreds of North Carolinians,” Perdue said. “This announcement by an international industry leader can only strengthen North Carolina’s already strong reputation as a business-friendly state with a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.”
Illinois-based Hewitt Associates (NYSE:HEW) consults with more than 3,000 companies and administers human resources, health care, payroll and retirement programs to millions of employees and retirees worldwide. The company currently employs about 23,000 workers in more than 30 countries, including 534 workers in North Carolina
The 463 new jobs will be primarily human resources administration and information technology positions and will pay an average salary of approximately $43,600 a year plus benefits.
“We’re pleased with the growth prospects for our business, and particularly our Charlotte center,” said David Swift, vice president of HR Business Processing Outsourcing at Hewitt. “Charlotte is a great location for us to expand our business due to the available talent pool and we very much look forward to growing our presence here with the continued support of the state of North Carolina.”
Other partners who helped make this project possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
To facilitate this expansion, the state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Hewitt. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.
Under the terms of the JDIG, Hewitt is eligible to receive a grant equal to 60 percent of the state withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each year the company meets annual job creation and other performance targets. If Hewitt meets the targets and sustains them for the nine-year grant period, Hewitt could receive a maximum of $4 million in total grant payments.
In addition, up to $1.3 million could be added to the state’s Industrial Development Fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties. When a JDIG is awarded in the state‘s more economically prosperous counties such as Mecklenburg, 25 percent of the grant award is allocated to the Industrial Development Fund to encourage economic development in less prosperous counties.
Hewitt was previously awarded a JDIG in 2005. However, business model changes within the company and a change in economic conditions that impacted some key clients caused Hewitt to voluntarily terminate its participation in the program last December. No grant money was paid.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state will work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain our workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Hewitt Associates or potential job opportunities, visit www.hewitt.com.