Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that North Cove Springs, a regional producer of bottled water from natural springs, will expand its production facility in McDowell County. The company will invest more than $6.3 million and create 138 jobs in Marion. The announcement was made possible in part by a $310,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina’s business-friendly policies and highly skilled workforce remain attractive to growing companies looking for the ideal location to expand,” Gov. Perdue said. “Our state is the perfect platform for successful firms like this one to compete and thrive in a national market.”
North Cove Springs, of Marion, whose ownership includes Able Rebuilders LLC, a national tools remanufacturer headquartered in Florida, taps water from natural springs. North Cove bottles, markets and distributes the spring water and naturally flavored water beverages to regional and national retailers.
North Cove is entering a joint venture with Able Rebuilders to expand water production by adding another bottling line at the existing Marion facility. While salaries will vary by position, the project’s 138 new jobs will pay an average annual wage of $28,141, not including benefits. That is higher than the McDowell County annual average wage of $27,976.
“The state of North Carolina is obviously very special to us, providing the natural resources for us to be able to bring our products to market,” said Chris Mencis, president of North Cove Springs. “It is also a special place to live and work. With this grant from the One NC Fund, we’re excited to be in a position to be able to contribute positively back to the economy.”
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.
“During these tough economic times, it’s critical to make the investments that will create jobs and grow companies,” said Sen. Joe Sam Queen. “We welcome these new jobs, especially in McDowell County. We are working every day for every opportunity.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state is working aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain our workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other project partners include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Department of Revenue, N.C. Community Colleges and McDowell County.
For information on Able Rebuilders, go to: www.ablerebuilders.com. For more information on North Cove Springs, go to: www.ncnaturals.com.
For information on job opportunities, please email: iwant2work@ncnaturals.com.