Press Releases

A manufacturer, a technology training partnership and four individual North Carolinians have won the Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced today. The recipients received awards earlier this month during a ceremony held in Greensboro as part of the annual NCWorks Partnership Conference.

The state’s seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent. North Carolina’s September 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 418 over the month to 4,805,218 and increased 60,636 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,530 over the month to 187,386 and decreased 32,493 over the year. 

Enforge, LLC, a manufacturer of steel-formed suspension and steering assemblies for automotive companies, is expanding in Stanly County, creating 44 new jobs and investing $4 million, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will bring a major steering linkage project involving steel forging, machining and assembly to Albemarle. 

Asheville Kombucha Mamas, LLC, a locally owned natural beverage company more commonly known as BUCHI, is expanding in Madison County, creating 28 new jobs and currently investing $2 million with plans to invest up to $7 million over the next three years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will expand its existing facility in Marshall. 

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 21 grant requests totaling $6,935,250, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 616 jobs, 304 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $594 million in private investment. 

Thirteen additional counties are now eligible to participate in the temporary employment program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Florence, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. This brings the total number of counties declared eligible to 41. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded an $18.5 million Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant to help with Hurricane Florence response in late September. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested the grant.

POLYWOOD, a manufacturer of outdoor furniture made from recycled plastics, will create 384 jobs over five years in Person County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $35.3 million to open a manufacturing and distribution center in Roxboro.  “Bringing good jobs to rural communities like Person County is essential to helping all of North Carolina thrive,” said Governor Cooper. “Innovative companies like POLYWOOD show how North Carolina’s furniture industry can continue to adapt and succeed, thanks to our strong workforce.”

A new competitive grant program will support local efforts to meet workforce challenges, Governor Roy Cooper announced today at the NCWorks Partnership Conference in Greensboro. The NCWorks Local Innovation Fund is part of Governor Cooper’s NC Job Ready Initiative for getting North Carolina’s workforce ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow. The $2 million fund will give grants to communities to pilot innovative programs or adapt and replicate successful programs that address local or regional workforce issues.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 88 of North Carolina’s counties in August, increased in four, and remained unchanged in eight. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.1 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and one remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 5.8 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.2 percent. The August not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.9 percent.  

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today that new applications are being accepted by the One North Carolina Small Business Matching Funds Program, an important source of capital for North Carolina’s technology companies.  The program provides money to help small businesses develop and commercialize innovative new technologies. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2019, or until funds have been exhausted for the program’s 2018-2019 fiscal year funding cycle.