Press Releases

Governor Roy Cooper announced 24,224 new jobs in North Carolina last year, representing 185 business recruitment, expansion or rural development projects that engaged with the North Carolina Department of Commerce or its team at the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. in 2021.  These projects will bring $10.1 billion of capital investment into the state, marking new all-time highs for economic development performance.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 97 of North Carolina’s counties in November and increased in three. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.0 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 2.4 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.2 percent while Durham-Chapel Hill had the lowest at 2.7 percent. The November not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent.

Science 37, Inc. [ NASDAQ: SNCE ], the Agile Clinical Trial Operating Systemtm, will relocate its corporate headquarters from California to North Carolina’s Research Triangle region and create 250 jobs over five years in Wake County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest nearly $1.5 million to establish operations in the Town of Morrisville.

The majority of respondents to a rolling survey of North Carolina businesses launched in October expressed optimism for the future of their businesses and reported they were meeting or exceeding revenue goals, according to preliminary results from the state’s new Business Pulse Survey.

The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent. North Carolina’s November 2021 unemployment rate decreased 2.5 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 18,133 over the month to 4,843,510 and increased 130,872 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 10,177 over the month to 198,226 and decreased 124,884 over the year.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has awarded 21 Community Development Block Grant - Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) requests to local governments totaling $14.9 million. The requests will provide housing and public improvements for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians.  “It costs more now to buy or rent so it’s critical that we invest more in affordable housing,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These neighborhood revitalization grants will help us build stronger and more resilient communities across our state.”

LT Apparel Group, a leading manufacturer of childrenswear apparel is expanding operations in North Carolina with an investment of at least $57 million in Greensboro. The company’s project will add a minimum of 116 new jobs to the community and will help increase industrial capacity at the Reedy Fork Corporate Park. “Manufacturers continue to choose North Carolina for expansion projects that are critical to their bottom line,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “LT Apparel Group’s decision demonstrates confidence in our workforce and the growth of our state."

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 16 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,130,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 718 jobs, 144 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $95 million in private investment.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) America’s largest grocery retailer, will build a high-tech customer fulfillment center in Cabarrus County and create nearly 700 jobs over five years to support a logistics facility that will be established in the City of Concord, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Toyota will build its first North American battery manufacturing plant for a new generation of vehicles in North Carolina, creating at least 1,750 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Toyota will invest $1.29 billion at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite, strengthening North Carolina’s position as a leader in the nation’s growing, clean energy economy.