Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center announced today, that Manteo, Murphy, Pilot Mountain, and Pittsboro have been selected as the latest North Carolina Main Street communities.  This is a designation that municipalities earn after meeting rigorous national downtown development requirements.  The designation becomes effective July 1, 2022.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 89 of North Carolina’s counties in May, decreased in six, and remained unchanged in five. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.3 percent while Chatham and Orange Counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.9 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 3.0 percent. The May not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center at the North Carolina Department of Commerce has announced that 46 North Carolina communities have been designated a 2022 Accredited Main Street America™ program. This accreditation status is Main Street America’s top-tier recognition and signifies a demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and a proven track record of successfully developing an asset based economic development strategy, and implementation through the Main Street Four-Point Approach™.

The state’s seasonally adjusted May 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from April’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 33,419 over the month to 4,916,580 and increased 218,327 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,361 over the month to 170,970 and decreased 76,321 over the year.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 16 grant requests to local governments totaling $3,938,829, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 472 jobs, 137 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $67 million in private investment.    

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that 30 local governments in rural areas across the state have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, a new source of support for rural economic development projects in North Carolina funded by the federal American Rescue Plan.

Cabinet manufacturer Design Mode Cabinetry will create 139 new jobs in Duplin County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $13 million to establish a manufacturing facility in the Town of Warsaw. “Design Mode is another great win for eastern North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “Having the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast coupled with our premier quality of life and central location, Duplin County will provide a strong foundation for this company's success.”

Snack food company, Lotus Bakeries, will create 62 new jobs in Alamance County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. In a second expansion in a year, the company will invest more than $84 million to add a new production facility at its Mebane location. “The decision of Lotus Bakeries once again to expand operations in Alamance County shows that when businesses come here, they can grow here,” said Governor Cooper. “Lotus knows the strength of our economy and workforce and this expansion underscores their desire to continue thriving in North Carolina.”

North Carolina is one of two states that has received Area Development magazine’s inaugural 2022 Platinum Shovel award which recognizes states that went beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation. Tennessee is the second state receiving the honor.

Dymax Corporation, a global chemical and plastics manufacturer, will open a new manufacturing center and create 227 jobs in Union County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $46.7 million in the City of Monroe.