Press Releases

A new apprenticeship program will train apprentices, and veterans in particular, for high-paying clinical research careers.

N.C. - Two employers plan to create 118 new jobs in McDowell County, Governor Roy Cooper announced March 21. Baxter International, a global health care company, is expanding investments in its manufacturing facility in McDowell County. The company plans to add 90 jobs and invest more than $7.4 million at its Marion location. Taylor Stave, LLC, a wood products supplier, will expand its manufacturing operations in McDowell County, adding 28 jobs over the coming three years. The company plans to invest $395,000 at its Nebo facility.

igh, N.C. — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 16.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.3 percent.  All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.9 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.6 percent.  The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.5 percent.      

Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland and Executive Director of Economic Development Susan Fleetwood presented awards last evening to 15 North Carolina Main Street program participants. The N.C. Main Street Awards Ceremony, held at the Don Gibson Theatre, recognized excellence in downtown revitalization in several categories including promotion, organization, design and economic vitality.

Main Street Champions, individuals who work and advocate for downtown revitalization across the state were recognized for their commitment this morning at an awards ceremony breakfast in Shelby. Thirty-six individuals received honors for their contributions in 2016. “Downtown districts are important economic engines in our state,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “The men and women we’re recognizing today are the people who keep those engines running, generating prosperity for communities all across North Carolina.”

The NCWorks Commission has approved and endorsed five new regional plans to help people prepare and train for work. NCWorks Certified Career Pathways are education and training plans that help job seekers enter particular industries. These pathways are designed by employers in collaboration with the state’s workforce development and education professionals. Career pathways outline and define the following:

Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate.  The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.8 percent. North Carolina’s January 2017 unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago.  The number of people employed increased 11,256 over the month to 4,674,841 and increased 98,860 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 3,298 over the month to 260,150 and increased 1,780 over the year.

The state’s largest conference focused on bringing new vitality to downtown business districts will open in Shelby tomorrow (March 14). The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center organizes and hosts the annual conference, which this year is expected to draw more than 500 participants.

Company Will Invest $251 Million in Additional Manufacturing Operations and Gridbank™ Deployment

A new grant program for workforce development will provide $1 million this year to develop talent pipelines for high-growth industries in North Carolina.