Press Releases

Local governments in 69 North Carolina counties can now apply for funding from a program associated with the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), a state and federal partnership agency crafted along the model of the long-established Appalachian Regional Commission. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division manages the state’s engagement with SCRC.The inaugural grant cycle from SCRC’s State Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program (SEID) will provide $4.5 million for projects in North Carolina.

Honda Aircraft Company, maker of the renowned HondaJet light aircraft, will develop and produce a longer-range version of the plane at its Greensboro facilities, creating 280 jobs Governor Roy Cooper announced today.  The company will invest $55.7 million in Guilford County for production of its new HondaJet 2600 model, bringing its total investment in the state to over $335 million.

TTX Company, a major provider of railcars and related freight car management services to the North American rail industry, will move its headquarters to Charlotte, creating 150 jobs Governor Roy Cooper announced today.  The company will invest $14.5 million in Mecklenburg County.

CNBC has named North Carolina as America’s Top State for Business in 2023 for the second year in a row. This morning, Governor Roy Cooper joined CNBC’s Scott Cohn at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for a live broadcast where the winner was revealed.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders issued a statement today, following CNBC’s announcement naming North Carolina “America’s Top State for Business” for the second year in a row:

The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center has selected Mebane and Zebulon as the latest “North Carolina Main Street Communities”, while Thomasville has been selected to participate in the Downtown Associate Community (DAC) program.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in May 2023 and decreased in five. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.8 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.8 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders has named Kristina Ray as the next Administrator of Credit Unions, a role that includes supervision of the North Carolina Credit Union Division.  As Administrator, Ray will lead the regulatory agency in promoting and assisting in the formation of credit unions in the state, as well as ensuring the safety and soundness of credit unions in compliance with applicable laws through yearly examinations.

North Carolina has received Area Development magazine’s 2023 Platinum Shovel Award which recognizes states that went above and beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation. This is the second year in a row the state has received this honor, sharing the inaugural award in 2022 with Tennessee. North Carolina is the only state recognized for the Platinum Shovel award this year.

The state’s seasonally adjusted May 2023 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from April’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.3 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 20,351 over the month to 5,033,140 and increased 42,690 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 3,076 over the month to 175,754 and decreased 1,737 over the year.