Press Releases

Today, Governor Roy Cooper attended the Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS/Japan) meeting in Tokyo and met with business and political leaders to discuss North Carolina’s partnership with Japanese businesses and the country. The Governor was joined by NC Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders and Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Chair Chris Chung, along with other economic development leaders. With 35 attendees, this is the largest delegation that North Carolina has ever brought to a Tokyo meeting.

Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded a $10 million grant to The Industrial Commons, an industry focused nonprofit in western North Carolina. The grant will help build a 40,000-square-foot green textile manufacturing hub in Burke County.“North Carolina has a rich legacy in textile manufacturing and innovation,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This investment will help strengthen our textile economy and grow our nonwovens manufacturing workforce which is the largest in the nation.”

Governor Roy Cooper will lead a North Carolina delegation to Japan from October 11 – 15 to the annual Southeastern United States/Japan (SEUS/Japan) Economic Development Conference in Tokyo to recruit industry and meet with business leaders and others.

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed October 1-7, 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Week. With the eighth-largest manufacturing economy in the United States, and the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeast, manufacturing remains essential to the success of every sector of North Carolina’s economy.

North Carolina today announced participation in a regional offshore wind workforce assessment and supply chain project. The purpose of the “SMART-POWER Workforce and Supply Chain Analysis” is to understand the region’s existing offshore wind capabilities and identify supply chain investments that could most effectively leverage these resources and provide the greatest benefits to members states while furthering the responsible development of offshore wind.

Provalus, an IT services company, will create 92 jobs in Columbus County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $500,000 to establish operations in the City of Whiteville.“This announcement by Provalus is a great win for Columbus County,” said Governor Cooper. “The decision to operate in Whiteville is evidence of the strength of rural North Carolina’s talented workforce, strong economy, and great quality of life.”

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 41 of North Carolina’s counties in August 2023, decreased in 28, and remained unchanged in 31. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.2 percent while Swain County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Seven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases, two increased, and six remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.0 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

North Carolina’s designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities have leveraged more than $5.2 billion in public and private investment in their downtown districts since 1980, according to new figures released today by the Department of Commerce.During the recently completed 2022-23 fiscal year, North Carolina’s Main Street programs leveraged $684,637,060 in local public and private investment and saw 365 new businesses and nearly 3,000 jobs added in their downtown districts.

Chick-fil-A Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chick-fil-A, Inc., and distribution service provider of the chain’s restaurants, will create more than 85 jobs in Rowan County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Chick-fil-A Supply will invest $58.3 million to open a new distribution center in the City of Kannapolis.“Chick-fil-A’s expansion is good for Kannapolis along with Rowan and surrounding counties,” said Governor Cooper. “We appreciate their vote of confidence in North Carolina and the strength of our workforce and infrastructure.”

The state’s seasonally adjusted August 2023 unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, unchanged from July’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.3 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 12,790 over the month to 5,072,983 and increased 103,639 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 2,183 over the month to 173,576 and decreased 26,778 over the year.