Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Commerce has awarded Brevard, North Carolina up to $200,000 from the Main Street Solutions Fund.  The funds will be used to construct a new office and retail facility located at 43 South Broad Street in downtown Brevard for phase two of the Aethewold Development.  Phase one of the development rehabilitated the historic Aethewold hotel transforming it into residential units and retail space.

Raleigh, N.C. -New innovation grants will assist 13 North Carolina companies in bringing new, cutting-edge products to the marketplace.  Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III announced the One North Carolina Small Business Fund recipients today along with awards totaling $610,997. The recipients are developing products that would be used primarily in the fields of medicine and technology.

, N.C.—North Carolina Secretary of Commerce John E. Skvarla, III has issued the following statement regarding SB 326 “Increase JDIG Program Funding” which was passed by the North Carolina Senate earlier today. The bill has been sent to the North Carolina House for consideration. "This bill does not provide the certainty that is needed now which is clearly spelled out in the NC Competes bill already approved by the NC House,” said Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III.  “North Carolina job recruitment efforts require action, not a band aid approach."

Morganton, N.C.The Department of Commerce’s NC Main Street Center is hosting its annual N.C. Main Street Conference March 18-20 in Morganton.  This year’s participation exceeds 530 people making it the most attended in the conference’s 14-year history.  The theme – Main Street HAS What It Takes– references both the increased diversity in North Carolina’s downtown districts today and the Main Street program tools that help communities achieve diversified success.

anton, N.C.-- Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and Assistant Secretary Dr. Patricia Mitchell are highlighting award winning downtown revitalization efforts at the N.C. Main Street Awards Conference in Morganton tonight.  They will present 23 awards to participants in the N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street programs in Morganton’s Municipal Auditorium at 401 S. College Street at 7 p.m.  Award winners are recognized for excellence in downtown revitalization efforts in categories that include promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring.

, N.C. -  Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla III and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced today that  Packrite, LLC will expand its operations in Guilford County and create 100 new jobs over the next five years.  The company plans to invest $8.9 million in building and equipment in the city of High Point over the course of the first year.  

, N.C. - North Carolina Industrial Commission Chairman Andrew T. Heath has released an update on the Industrial Commission’s initiative to thoroughly investigate and penalize state businesses that operate without required workers’ compensation coverage.  This initiative was launched in early 2014.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the BizConnect Broadband Pilot Grant Program. This program provides reimbursements to North Carolina cities, towns or villages to fund deployment of broadband connectivity to a business location that is unserved, or underserved, by necessary broadband connectivity. The purpose of this program is to enable the business to create jobs. Reimbursements in the amount of up to $10,000 per job created will be offered.

Raleigh, N.C. -  Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla III and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced today that Sanderson Farms will construct a new state-of-the-art poultry complex in Robeson County.  The new processing plant and hatchery will create approximately 1,100 new jobs during the next three years. Sanderson Farms expects to invest approximately $139 million in the complex which includes upgrades to its Kinston, N.C. feed mill.

The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Division has selected Matrix Design Group to prepare a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for the communities surrounding Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, including the Dare County Range.  The Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment provides grants to state and local governments to conduct a JLUS.  The grant will support the cost of the study, which is $297,675.