Press Releases

Sunlight Batteries USA, an industrial battery manufacturer, member of the Greek multinational Group Olympia, will create 46 jobs in Guilford County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $6.5 million in machinery and infrastructure to establish their first North American assembly and distribution facilities in Greensboro. “Global manufacturers like Sunlight batteries see great potential in North Carolina, from our location to our highly skilled workforce” said Governor Cooper. 

Merck (NYSE: MRK), a leading global biopharmaceutical company, will invest $57 million and create 55 jobs in Wilson, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The expansion will establish a filling and packaging line for the company’s RotaTeq® vaccine. “Merck is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and good jobs will continue to grow with today’s announcement in Wilson,” said Governor Cooper.  

A new wholly owned subsidiary of Little Leaf Farms, LLC, an innovative producer of fresh lettuce, will build a state-of-the-art greenhouse complex in Yancey County, creating up to 100 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest up to $86 million in Burnsville in a multi-phased planned expansion. "North Carolina is known for innovation and agriculture. Projects like Little Leaf’s new greenhouse mean a better product and more sustainable practices to grow crops and jobs in Yancey County,” said Governor Cooper. 

The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2020 today.  The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.

Q2 Solutions, a leading clinical trial laboratory services organization, will establish a new facility in Durham to help develop the next generation of precision medicines, creating 749 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Q2 Solutions will invest $73 million in the project, which will grow in two phases over seven years.

Polyhose Inc., an industrial hose manufacturer, will create 51 jobs in Pender County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $7.9 million to locate a warehouse and assembly plant along U.S.-421 in Pender County. “Pender County is ready to grow, and international companies like Polyhose know North Carolina’s strong workforce is the right way to put their strategy to work,” said Governor Cooper.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 86 of North Carolina’s counties in October and remained the same in 14. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and one remained the same. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.9 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.8 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

North Carolina’s County and Area Employment Figures for October 2019 will be published today, Monday November 25, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Previously, the October figures were scheduled to be published on Wednesday, November 27.  However, due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the publication schedule has been adjusted. The revised entire publication schedule for 2019 data can be reviewed online at nccommerce.com.

The Fresh Market, a fresh-focused specialty food retailer that was founded in Greensboro in 1982, will expand their headquarters operations in North Carolina, creating 53 new jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company plans to invest $5.4 million in Greensboro.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.