Press Releases

Abzena Holdings (US) LLC, a life sciences contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), will locate a significant biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in Lee County, creating 325 jobs and investing $213 million in Sanford, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. “Abzena recognized North Carolina as a leader in biotechnology and knew this was the right place to develop and manufacture new medicines and grow their business,” said Governor Cooper.

Gusmer Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer of filtration and fermentation products, will create 73 new jobs in Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $26.5 million to build a production facility in Hickory. “We are excited to welcome Gusmer Enterprises to our state,” said Governor Cooper. “When growing manufacturers choose North Carolina, it highlights the company’s confidence in our state’s workforce and resilient economy,” said Governor Cooper.

Pipeline Plastics Holdings, LLC, a leading manufacturer of high-performance industrial pipeline systems, will create 44 new jobs in Columbus County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $4.6 million in a new production facility in Fair Bluff.

AP Emissions Technologies, an automotive exhaust manufacturer, will create 96 new jobs in Wayne County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $400,000 to expand its e-commerce operations in Goldsboro. “North Carolina-grown companies, like AP Emissions Technologies know the strength of our workforce, economy and quality of life,” said Governor Cooper. “We are delighted to have this family-owned company continue to invest and create more job opportunities in eastern North Carolina.”

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 96 of North Carolina’s counties in February, increased in three, and remained unchanged in one. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.9 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 4.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 7.8 percent while Durham-Chapel Hill and Raleigh each had the lowest at 4.7 percent. The February not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.6 percent.

American Racing Headers & Exhaust, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of stainless-steel headers and exhaust system components, will locate a new manufacturing facility in Stanly County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $4.37 million and add 63 new jobs as it relocates its operations to the Charlotte region.

After pressing pause in 2020, film production has resumed in North Carolina with six recent grant recipients. With production levels at a six-year high so far this year, the latest productions to be announced as North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant recipients will have a combined spend of more than $134.8 million in the state while creating in excess of 5,700 job opportunities, including 1,681 well-paying crew positions for the state’s highly skilled film professionals. 

Governor Roy Cooper announced that the North Carolina Department of Commerce will pilot the Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative (CERRI) to support communities with their recovery and response to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Administered by the Department’s Rural Economic Development Division, Rural Planning Program, CERRI will provide a structured planning process for communities to develop strategies for local economic recovery and offer technical services to assist with the implementation of each community’s local strategies.

Robinhood Markets, Inc., a California-based financial services firm, will create nearly 400 jobs in Mecklenburg County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $11.7 million to establish an office in Charlotte focused on customer experience roles. "With the second-largest financial center in the nation, North Carolina is one of the fastest growing tech hubs where companies like this know they can flourish," said Governor Cooper.

The state’s seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, decreasing 0.2 points from January’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 points to 6.2 percent. North Carolina’s February 2021 unemployment rate increased 2.1 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 4,804 over the month to 4,746,591 and decreased 175,050 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 10,931 over the month to 286,788 and increased 103,294 over the year.