Press Releases

North Carolina is a world leader in nanotechnology, the transformational science of custom-building ultra-precise materials, medicines and devices molecule by molecule to shape the clothes, treatments and machines of our future.  To explore emerging practical applications in this rapidly evolving field – and help turn revolutionary concepts into new jobs and businesses – the state will host the second annual Nanotechnology Commercialization Conference, March 31-April 1 at the Koury Convention Center.

Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco announced today that two North Carolina counties have been awarded Community Development Block Grants to provide down-payment assistance and financial literacy training for first-time homebuyers. Catawba County will receive $70,000 and Columbus County will receive $50,000 from the CDBG Individual Development Account program, which assists community organizations in funding financial literacy education and matching low-income participants’ contributions to savings accounts dedicated to the purchase of first homes.

Three distinguished North Carolinians were honored today at the N.C. Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism for their significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina's tourism industry.  The 2010 Winners Circle Awards were presented to Capt. David R. Scheu of Wilmington, Bill Hensley of Charlotte and Spencer Robbins of Banner Elk. 

Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco today announced that four North Carolina communities will receive a total of $1.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to connect low- and moderate-income homes to clean drinking water supplies.  The money will be used to install or replace 15,300 linear feet of public water lines.

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Turbotec Products Inc., an international supplier of heat exchangers and heat transfer products for the heating, refrigeration and geothermal markets, will greatly expand its presence in Catawba County.  The company will move the bulk of its manufacturing operations from Connecticut to Hickory, adding 73 jobs and investing $6.5 million in the next three years.  The project was made possible in part by a $76,500 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. 

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Siemens Energy Inc., an international supplier of products and services for the generation, transmission and distribution of power, will expand its gas turbine operations in Mecklenburg County. The company plans to add 825 jobs and invest at least $135 million over the next five years. The announcement was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant program and One North Carolina Fund.

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Pierre Foods Inc., a national producer of high-quality, fully cooked meats and frozen sandwiches, will expand in Catawba County.  The company plans to create 500 jobs and invest $16.8 million during the next three years in Claremont and retain more than 700 existing jobs at its facility there.  The announcement was made possible in part by a $600,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. 

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Northeast Foods Inc., a national contract baker for the commercial and fast-food industries, will open a new bakery operation in Johnston County.  The company plans to invest $25.4 million and create 84 jobs during the next two years in Clayton.  The new bakery operation is made possible in part by a $350,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.  

Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco today announced that 13 communities received a total of $830,330 in Community Development Block Grant funds to connect 200 low- and moderate-income households to public water and/or sewer lines.  The Infrastructure Hook-Up Program enables local governments to connect low- and moderate-income households to existing public water and/or sewer lines, provided the existing lines were not constructed with CDBG funds.  The maximum grant amount is $75,000. 

Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings Inc., a national provider of medical laboratory testing services, will open a new billing operations office in Guilford County.  The company will create 346 jobs and invest $4 million during the next three years in Greensboro.  The project was made possible in part by a $275,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.