After a historic year for job announcements and investments, North Carolina has been named the “State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine.

In 2022, Governor Roy Cooper announced a record number of over 28,300 jobs coming to every corner of the state and CNBC ranked North Carolina as the top state in the country to do business. The Governor also made once-in-a-generation investments focused on strengthening the state’s workforce while leading the transition toward a clean energy economy.

Governor Roy Cooper announced 28,690 new jobs in North Carolina in 2022, representing 182 business recruitment, expansion or rural development projects that engaged with the North Carolina Department of Commerce or its team at the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. in 2022.  These projects will bring $19.3 billion of capital investment into the state, marking new all-time highs for economic development performance.

Today, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders announced that M. Antwon Keith will serve as the acting Assistant Secretary for the Division of Employment Security (DES). As Assistant Secretary, he will be responsible for the division’s operations, communications and accountability as it administers the state’s unemployment insurance program.

“DES will benefit from the years of leadership experience and wealth of knowledge in the field of unemployment insurance that M. Antwon Keith brings to this position,” said Secretary Sanders.

Nelipak Corporation (d/b/a Nelipak Healthcare Packaging), a leading global healthcare packaging manufacturer, will initially invest at least $11.8 million to establish a flexible packaging production site in Winston-Salem, announced Governor Roy Cooper. The company says it will create at least 36 new jobs in Forsyth County and expects to make additional investments and job creation at the site over the next five years.

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), the global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Charlotte, will expand and create at least 200 jobs in Mecklenburg County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will establish an advanced materials research and development facility with a minimum project investment of $180 million.

Catalent, a leading global development and manufacturing partner to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and consumer health industries, will create more than 200 new jobs in Durham County over the next five years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.  The company will invest up to $40 million to expand its analytical development and testing business in the City of Durham.

Future Meat Technologies Inc. d/b/a Believer Meats, a cultivated meat company, will create up to 100 new jobs in Wilson County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will make an initial investment of more than $123 million to establish its first commercial-scale food manufacturing facility in Wilson. 

Alamance Foods, Inc., a manufacturer of a variety of consumer food products, will invest $42 million to expand its North Carolina operations in Alamance County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will create 135 jobs in Burlington.

Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc., a comprehensive housing and wood products company will create 129 jobs in Randolph County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company, through a new wholly owned subsidiary, will establish a manufacturing facility and invest $19.5 million in Archdale.