Press Releases

North Carolina continues to make progress in its overall innovation capacity, rising one place in its national ranking, but the state still needs to encourage more private-sector research and development activities, according to the latest edition of a closely watched report on innovation in Nort

CertainTeed, a manufacturer of building products, will add 37 new jobs in Granville County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $118.8 million to expand its roofing shingle manufacturing facility in Oxford.

Nucor (NYSE: NUE), the largest producer of steel in the United States, will locate a new micro mill steel plant in the city of Lexington in Davidson County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 50 of North Carolina’s counties in February, increased in 12, and remained unchanged in 38. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.9 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 2.5 percent.

Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), the iconic American retailer, will invest more than $584 million to build its first automated fulfillment center in the Town of China Grove, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Once fully operational, the company says it plans to employ 2,800 new jobs in Rowan County.

The NCWorks Commission, the state workforce development board, voted today to recommend that the regions currently served by 23 local workforce development boards be realigned to help support economic development activities and better meet the needs of employers seeking to fill jobs.

VinFast, the Vietnamese auto manufacturer building a new line of electric vehicles, has selected North Carolina for its first North American automotive assembly and battery manufacturing plant, creating 7,500 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper and Vingroup Vice Chair and VinFast Global CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy

The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2022 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent.

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders are encouraging North Carolina employers to hire veterans and to apply for recognition with a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, an official program of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund, a new source of support for rural economic development in North Carolina, is now accepting applications from local governments seeking to overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness.  The North Carolina Department of Commerce and its Rur