Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that the PAS Group, a leading developer and manufacturer of cable and panel systems for household appliances, will expand its manufacturing facility in Beaufort County. The company plans to create 239 jobs and invest $3.2 million during the next five years in Washington. The project was made possible in part by an $800,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“Manufacturers worldwide are looking to North Carolina thanks to our skilled workers, custom training programs and top-ranked business climate,” said Gov. Perdue. “I thank PAS for its commitment to the communities of Beaufort County. These new jobs will help hundreds of families in Beaufort County and Eastern North Carolina to get back on their feet.”
The PAS Group is a worldwide manufacturer of cable and panel systems for household appliances with facilities in Germany, Poland, Turkey, Mexico and the United States. Subsidiary PAS USA Inc.’s manufacturing facility in Washington, N.C. currently employs 137. The new investment will enable PAS USA to win a new supply contract for 250,000 dishwasher panel systems with a major home dishwasher brand. Manufacturing includes injection molding, printing, high speed milling, assembly and electronic testing.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $27,258 not including benefits. The Beaufort County average annual wage is $29,952.
“PAS USA is excited with the opportunities for continued growth of our business in eastern North Carolina and with the support of the State of North Carolina through its workforce and business development grants,” said Frank Wendland, General Manager of PAS USA.
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
"The creation of 239 new jobs in Beaufort County is excellent news,” said Sen. Marc Basnight, who represents Beaufort County. “We must continue aggressively recruiting new employers and investments in our state and region."
“Companies from around the world are looking to grow their business, and Beaufort County can compete for these jobs because of our quality workforce and North Carolina’s reputation as a good place to do business,” said Rep. Arthur Williams of Washington. “I want to thank Governor Perdue, the Department of Commerce, and Lawrence Davenport and Dan Gerlach with Golden LEAF for their help with this project.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 45,000 jobs and $8 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the Golden Leaf Foundation, the Beaufort County Commission, the Beaufort County Economic Development Commission and the Beaufort County Committee of 100.
For more information about PAS, including job opportunities, go to pas-net.biz