Press Releases

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 16 grant requests totaling $3,948,755, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 683 jobs, 461 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $142.8 million in private investment. 

State outdoor recreation directors from across the country will gather in Asheville this July to continue building a multi-state vision for connecting Americans with the outdoors, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The Asheville Confluence Summit builds on a meeting in Denver this past January, where outdoor industry leaders from eight states gathered for the first time before the annual Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show to discuss shared public policy principles and identify ways their states could work together. 

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is moving to take advantage of new federal legislation that holds the promise of bringing investment dollars for economic development into areas of the state where such capital is most needed. The areas will be designated as North Carolina Opportunity Zones. This new tool for community and economic development is designed to provide tax incentives for qualified investors to reinvest unrealized capital gains into low-income communities.

InterMarket Technology will bring corporate headquarters, manufacturing facility to Washington, NC

, N.C. — A new statewide partnership will bring accredited professional development to the North Carolina workforce system’s employer-facing staff to help them better serve businesses’ workforce needs. The North Carolina Department of Commerce, local workforce boards and the nationally recognized organization, Business U, Inc. will partner to provide this new training as part of Governor Roy Cooper’s NC Job Ready priorities.

North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland appointed Daniel (Danny) Giddens to serve as the Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary of the Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS). Since December, Giddens has served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the division. 

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 56 of North Carolina’s counties in December, increased in 20, and remained unchanged in 24.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.4 percent.  Eleven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and four remained unchanged.  Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.3 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.6 percent.  The December not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.4 percent. 

The 2017 Governor’s Export Awards honor growth through international markets

Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, increasing 0.2 of a percentage point from November’s revised rate.  The national rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. North Carolina’s December 2017 unemployment rate decreased 0.7 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 12,081 over the month to 4,727,107 and increased 63,522 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 8,755 over the month to 222,116 and decreased 34,736 over the year. 

David Knight will lead outdoor industry recruitment efforts for North Carolina