Press Releases

Businesses and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina that have experienced interruption due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic could qualify for up to $250,000 from a new state grant program, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Job Retention Grant Program (JRG) through the agency’s website. “The Job Retention Grant Program offers another way for employers hit hard by COVID-19 to gain some relief,” said Governor Cooper. “This program aims to help employers keep employees on the payroll.”

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that Beam Therapeutics (Nasdaq; BEAM), a biotechnology company developing precision medicines through DNA base editing, plans to build a manufacturing facility in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, creating 201 jobs. Over a period of 5 years, the company expects to invest $83 million in the facility, which will support clinical and commercial manufacturing for the company’s novel base editing programs.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has identified and hired an experienced, international consulting company to help the agency assess North Carolina’s potential as an offshore wind industry hub.  BVG Associates, headquartered near London with offices in Glasgow, Scotland, Boston, and Richmond, Virginia will help the Department research and develop an inventory of businesses, organizations, and physical infrastructure best positioned to promote offshore wind development in North Carolina.

Retirement Clearinghouse, LLC (RCH), a leading national name in retirement plan services, will create 300 new jobs in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4.1 million to expand their headquarters and corporate office in Charlotte.  “North Carolina continues to attract innovative technology companies like Retirement Clearinghouse,” said Governor Cooper. “This Mecklenburg County expansion highlights the region and how its talented workforce can help tech companies reach their business goals.”

Prepac Manufacturing Ltd., a North American manufacturer of Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) furniture will locate a new east coast furniture factory in Guilford County, creating 201 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $27.1 million in a new 260,000 square foot factory in Whitsett. "Even in a pandemic, North Carolina continues to grow jobs with companies like Prepac because of our great workforce, strategic location and reliable transportation,” said Governor Cooper.

World Cat, a manufacturer of outboard power catamarans for recreational boaters worldwide, will expand its North Carolina operations with a new production facility in Pitt County, Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced today. The company plans to add 60 jobs and invest $8,879,000 at a site in Greenville.

Select Products Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer of tissue products, will invest $4 million and create 73 jobs in Vance County, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today.  The decision marks a major expansion for the company as it increases operations to meet growing demand.

The North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center has selected Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson as the latest “North Carolina Main Street Communities,” a designation that municipalities earn after meeting rigorous national downtown development criteria. The designation becomes effective July 31, 2020.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in June. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.5 percent, while Duplin had the lowest at 5.4 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 10.0 percent and New Bern had the lowest at 6.7 percent. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 7.9 percent.

The state’s seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate was 7.6 percent, decreasing 5.2 points from May’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 2.2 percentage points to 11.1 percent. North Carolina’s June 2020 unemployment rate increased 3.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 227,498 over the month to 4,428,221 and decreased 444,125 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 252,047 over the month to 363,465 and increased 160,976 over the year.