Press Releases

Today, one year since the creation of the Finish Line Grants program, Governor Roy Cooper announced that more than 1,700 Finish Line Grants have helped community college students complete their training and prepare to enter the workforce. These grants total more than $1.1 million awarded to date. 

ABB, Inc. (NYSE: ABB), a global leader in electrification products, robotics, and industrial automation, will expand in Orange County and create more than 400 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest up to $39.9 million to upgrade equipment and increase the size of its current facility in Mebane. 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been awarded a Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund (JMAC) grant to support the upgrade and addition of manufacturing equipment at its Fayetteville tire plant.  As a result of this modernization project, Goodyear, one of Cumberland County’s largest private employers, will maintain its important role in the company’s operations and 2,000 North Carolina jobs will be protected.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in May, decreased in three, and remained unchanged in two. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.1 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 5.5 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.3 percent. The May not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that Mooresville-based home improvement company Lowe’s will locate a major new technology center in Charlotte, creating more than 1,600 jobs. “Lowe’s is expanding in a way that will take technology to new heights and this company knows its home state can provide the highly trained workforce it needs,” Gov. Cooper said. “We are committed to ensuring workers have the right skills to encourage companies to grow their footprint in our state with confidence.”

Governor Cooper announced today that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 21 grant requests to local governments totaling $10,790,000. The requests include commitments to create a total of 1,314 jobs, 515 which have previously been announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $123.7 million in private investment.  

Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. North Carolina’s May 2019 unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 14,161 over the month to 4,852,204 and increased 64,656 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 4,474 over the month to 206,902 and increased 8,975 over the year. 

CleanAire, LLC, an air filtration manufacturing company that will be doing business as Pamlico Air will create 305 jobs as it expands its operations in Wilson County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $10 million in operating a facility, located in Wilson.

Three new television and film projects have been approved to receive North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant funds. Combined, the projects are expected to generate a direct in-state spend in excess of $50.6 million. The productions will create more than 5,800 job opportunities in the state, including 1,120 crew positions for the state’s talented film workforce.

SynergyLabs, a fast-growing manufacturer of specialty pet products, has selected Burke County as the location for a new company that will create 237 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The enterprise will invest $11.2 million to ramp up a new manufacturing plant in Hildebran.