Press Releases

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Helped North Carolina Employers Hire more than 91,000 Workers in 2022

The North Carolina Department of Commerce issued more than 91,000 Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) certifications to employers in 2022, the department’s Workforce Solutions division announced today.

Governor Cooper Releases New Report Outlining Strategies to Strengthen North Carolina’s Clean Energy Economy and Achieve Climate Goals

Today, Governor Roy Cooper released the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Analysis (“Pathways Analysis”) to ensure North Carolina continues to progress towards its climate goals while expanding our clean energy economy that benefits all.

North Carolina's December County and Area Unemployment Figures Released

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 96 of North Carolina’s counties in December and increased in four. Tyrell County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.1 percent while Buncombe, Greene, Orange, and Watauga Counties each had the lowest at 2.5 percent.

North Carolina Selects 34 Communities for Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE) Program

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division has selected

North Carolina’s December Employment Figures Released

The state’s seasonally adjusted December 2022 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5 percent.

The Largest Statewide Downtown Revitalization Conference in the Nation Will Meet In-Person in 2023

The 2023 North Carolina Main Street Conference is bringing community and economic development leaders back together in-person March 14-16 in downtown Statesville.

Secretary Sanders Statement on Fidelity Investments’ New Invest in My Education (ME)℠ Initiative

Raleigh, N.C. – North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders issued a statement today, following Fidelity Investments’ announcement of its Invest in My Education (ME)℠ initiative:

N.C. Commerce Department Employee Receives 2023 John R. Larkins Award

Felicia Culbreath-Setzer, NCWorks Regional Operations Director for the Northwest Prosperity Zone at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, was honored today as the recipient of the 

2022: Another Record-Breaking Year for New Jobs and Investment in North Carolina

Governor Roy Cooper announced 28,690 new jobs in North Carolina in 2022, representing 182 business recruitment, expansion or rural development projects that engaged with the North Carolina Department of Commerce or its team at the Economic Development Partnership of N.C.

ICYMI: Business Facilities Magazine Names North Carolina State of the Year for Economic Development

After a historic year for job announcements and investments, North Carolina has been named the “State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine.