Press Releases

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.

Yesterday (September 30) marked the start of 'North Carolina Manufacturing Week,’ as proclaimed by Governor Roy Cooper . The announcement brings attention to a business sector that employs nearly 465,000 North Carolinians, represents 22 percent of the state’s total private-sector economic output and offers young people a challenging and rewarding career path.

National General Insurance, a property and casualty insurance company, plans to expand its operations in Winston-Salem to create 626 jobs over five years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company, and a subsidiary of National General Holdings Corp., plans to invest $12.2 million in North Carolina by the end of 2022.

Publix Super Markets, Inc. will build a refrigerated distribution center in Guilford County by the end of 2022 as part of a multiphase project and has plans to create up to 1,000 jobs by 2025, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company is expected to invest up to $300 million in the first phase of the project.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved seven grant requests totaling $1,296,030, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 153 jobs, 80 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract just over $32.7 million in private investment. 

Record visitor spending in 2017 was reflected with visitor spending increases in all 100 counties, N.C. Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland announced today. Visitor spending reached nearly $5.4 billion in Mecklenburg, $2.3 billion in Wake, $1.4 billion in Guilford and $1.1 in Buncombe and Dare counties. Rounding out the top 10 counties for visitor spending were Forsyth ($898 million), Durham ($814 million), New Hanover ($578 million), Brunswick ($563 million) and Cumberland ($542 million).