Press Releases

igh, N.C. — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 67 of North Carolina’s counties in May, decreased in 13, and remained unchanged in 20.  Edgecombe and Scotland Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 7.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.3 percent.  Thirteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and two remained unchanged.

The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center announced today that 39 North Carolina communities have achieved accreditation from the National Main Street Center® for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, ® a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority awards grants to support jobs and infrastructure and property upgrades

Stormberg Foods will invest $2.48 million to start protein snack production facility

Ventura Coach Corp will expand operations with $2 million investment

HPFABRICS plans $1.1 million investment to return former textiles plant to productive use

Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate.  The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent. North Carolina’s May 2017 unemployment rate decreased 0.5 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 5,265 over the month to 4,705,488 and increased 97,270 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 11,546 over the month to 222,989 and decreased 17,161 over the year.

A new series of state grants will help improve drainage, repair sewer systems, and replace waterlines in several communities hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced today. The grants are part of $10.25 million in funding provided by the state legislature to N.C. Commerce to address rural economic development and small business needs following the storm and its historic floods. These recovery grants are a small part of a larger effort to help hurricane-affected communities recover and rebuild.

igh, N.C. — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 97 of North Carolina’s counties in April and increased in three.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.2 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and one increased. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.8 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.3 percent.  The April not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.3 percent.

Adhezion Biomedical plans $3.5 million expansion in Hudson