Press Releases

The Town of Troy recently joined the ranks of ‘North Carolina Main Street Communities,’ a designation municipalities earn by demonstrating a series of commitments to restore economic vitality to historic downtown districts.  The designation was announced today by the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center, a unit of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

—The state’s seasonally adjusted July unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from June’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. North Carolina’s July 2016 unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 13,203 over the month to 4,601,491 and increased 114,518 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 12,953 over the month to 225,934, and decreased 47,154 over the year.

State spending by domestic visitors jumps to record $21.9 billion

Loans and grants support 197 new jobs statewide

Direct Pack, Inc. to create 94 jobs at new East Coast facility

— Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 96 of North Carolina’s counties in June and decreased in four.  Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.2 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.9 percent.  All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.5 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.1 percent.  The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.2 percent. 

 The success story of North Carolina’s economy is in front of a world-wide audience, featured in a multi-page profile headlined North Carolina: Transformation Through Innovation in a recent issue of Newsweek magazine. Articles include interviews with Governor Pat McCrory, Commerce Secretary John Skvarla, Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson and Economic Development Partnership of N.C. CEO Christopher Chung.

Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina announced today that U-Play Corporation will establish a manufacturing plant in Wayne County, where it will create 88 new jobs during the next four years. The Chinese company will invest nearly $21.3 million at a location near the Town of Mount Olive in what will be U-Play’s first-ever U.S. location.  

—The state’s seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from May’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 4.9 percent. North Carolina’s June 2016 unemployment rate was 0.9 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 3,774 over the month to 4,614,725 and increased 133,046 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 10,900 over the month to 239,440, and decreased 35,598 over the year.

Carolina Connector expected to create 1,500 jobs throughout North Carolina