Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that MasterBrand Cabinets Inc., a national manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets for the remodeling and new construction markets, will expand in Lenoir County. The company plans to create 334 jobs and invest more than $3.75 million during the next three years in Kinston. The announcement was made possible in part by a $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina remains home to the finest furniture and cabinet makers, an industry rapidly adapting to master the evolving challenges of a world market,” said Gov. Perdue. “Our highly skilled workers, custom training programs and top quality of life continue to attract companies looking for the perfect place to grow and thrive.”
MasterBrand Cabinets Inc., a subsidiary of Fortune Brands Inc., is headquartered in Jasper, Ind. The company manufactures cabinets for the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms of the home. MasterBrand has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada, including a plant in Kinston employing more than 200 workers.
The company plans to reconfigure the current facility and more than double the workforce at its Kinston plant to produce a new kitchen and bath product line. While salaries will vary by job function, the new positions will pay an average annual wage of $25,787, not including benefits.
“Our Kinston facility has so many beneficial attributes that make it ideal for production of this new cabinetry line, including location, a great workforce and available capacity. The addition of a new line to the MBCI family reflects our ongoing commitment to develop new business opportunities and increase market share. We sincerely appreciate the state’s assistance in making this opportunity a reality at our North Carolina plant through a series of tax incentives as well as the One North Carolina Fund,” said Greg Stoner, president of MBCI.
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 that we make the right investments to create much needed jobs for North Carolina and for Lenoir County,” said Sen. Charlie Albertson.
“Our highly skilled workers continue to be a driving force for attracting companies that want to set up shop and expand in North Carolina and in Kinston,” said Rep. William Wainwright.
“These new jobs are certainly welcome news for Kinston,” said Rep. Van Braxton. “Our workforce is a big reason why we will see this important investment in our community.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state will work 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 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, Lenoir County and the City of Kinston.
MasterBrand Cabinets is a sister company of Moen Incorporated, which also employs hundreds of North Carolinians at its facilities in Kinston, New Bern and Sanford. Both MBCI and Moen are part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company.
For more information on MasterBrand Cabinets, including job opportunities, go to: www.masterbrand.com/.