Press Releases

Hamilton Drywall Products, a manufacturer of drywall finishing products, will create 34 new jobs in Union County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $5 million to locate a regional headquarters and production facility in Monroe. “Even during a pandemic, another manufacturer is choosing to expand their operations in North Carolina. Companies like Hamilton Drywall are confident in our workforce and our ability to manage the crisis, making our state a great partner for businesses that are growing,” said Governor Cooper.

UPS, the multinational package delivery and supply-chain management company, will undertake a significant expansion to its North Carolina presence with the addition of 592 jobs in Guilford and Alamance counties, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company plans to invest a total of $316.4 million at two sites over the coming four years.

Benestar Brands, an international snack food manufacturer, will create 129 jobs in Cleveland County, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $24 million to establish a new production facility in Kings Mountain. “Even during a pandemic, companies like Benestar Brands can expand operations because of our strong workforce, quality transportation network and management of this crisis,” said Governor Cooper.

Triple Aught Design, a US-based adventure gear company, will create 70 new jobs in McDowell County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The manufacturer will invest $1 million to build and operate a cutting-edge apparel and gear production facility and experience center in Old Fort.

Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a key source of capital for North Carolina’s technology companies.  The program, administered by the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, & Innovation (Board) and the North Carolina Department of Commerce will focus this year on helping to promote job creation and economic recovery at small technology companies meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, the leading pet care company in the United States, plans to establish significant new manufacturing and distribution operations in Rockingham County that will become operational in 2022 and create up to 300 new jobs by 2024, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $450 million in a 1,300+ acre site near Eden that formerly housed a brewery, where it will manufacture and distribute Purina pet food.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in August. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.6 percent, while Camden and Watauga Counties each had the lowest at 4.6 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville and Rocky Mount each had the highest rate at 9.1 percent and New Bern had the lowest at 5.9 percent. The August not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.8 percent.

Merchants Distributors, LLC, a wholesale grocery distributor founded in Hickory in 1931, will invest $120 million to expand its services and operations, creating 111 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company anticipates adding approximately 200,000 square feet to its Caldwell County facilities. "Companies with roots in our state like Merchants Distributors understand North Carolina’s advantages for their business,” said Governor Cooper. “It’s great to see a home-grown company, which could expand anywhere, once again choose our state and our workers to expand.”

Pamlico Air, an air filtration manufacturing company, will expand its North Carolina operations with a new facility in Beaufort County, creating 39 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $1.4 million in Washington. “It comes as no surprise that we are announcing manufacturing jobs during Manufacturing week,” said Governor Cooper. “Companies like Pamlico Air continue to choose expansion in North Carolina because of our state’s workforce and our focus on building the foundation for a strong economic future.”

Governor Roy Cooper noted that manufacturing remains essential to the success of every sector of our state’s economy as he proclaimed September 27 - October 3, 2020 as Manufacturing Week in North Carolina.