Press Releases

The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to February 6, 2025, for people in 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. Applications for DUA can be filed at des.nc.gov. This extension to February 6, 2025, maintains consistency with the deadlines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and allows the Division of Employment Security to continue to provide temporary financial support to people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce awarded 20 Community Development Block Grant - Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) fund requests to 20 local governments totaling $25.8 million. The requests will provide housing and public improvements for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians.“We’ve continued to make major investments in North Carolina communities that need support with affordable housing,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These neighborhood revitalization grants will help rural communities improve economic prosperity for all of their residents.”

Film productions across the state generated more than $302 million in direct in-state spending in 2024. This year is the second highest year-end total since 2015, when the state’s current film grant program began, and the third highest total since 2000, when the state began offering film incentives to support its film industry.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce launched a new data dashboard tool this week that will provide timely insights into the demographic characteristics of people applying for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The dashboard offers aggregate data that maintains individual privacy while providing information into the industries, occupations, and demographics of those seeking UI assistance.

A partnership in the Piedmont Triad is the winner of a competitive grant totaling $125,000 to support an innovative effort addressing reentry workforce challenges, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The state’s seasonally adjusted November 2024 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from October’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.

Today, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced the release of the NC Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies’ (NC TOWERS) final report to Governor Roy Cooper and the N.C. General Assembly.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper celebrated the progress made during his time in office building and strengthening North Carolina’s workforce. The Governor spoke at Durham Technical Community College and was joined by Durham Tech Community College President J.B. Buxton, Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board Executive Director Wendy Walker-Fox and Durham Tech student and Finish Line Grant recipient Laura Harris.

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that MetOx International Inc., a pioneering manufacturer of high-temperature superconducting wire, will build a major production facility in Chatham County, creating 333 jobs. The company will invest $193.7 million in North Carolina.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced SBA Home, a furniture manufacturer, will create 250 jobs in Davie County. The newly created company says it will invest more than $70 million to establish its first North American furniture production facility in the Town of Mocksville.