Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that VSA LLC, a recycler of automotive catalytic converters, will locate its production plant in Burke County. The company plans to create 98 jobs and invest $4.5 million during the next two years in Morganton. The project was made possible in part by a $98,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina is a national leader in the green economy sector, attracting growing, innovative companies like this one,” said Gov. Perdue. “Our skilled workers, custom training programs and highly rated business climates remain top draws for businesses seeking the best location to create jobs, invest and develop new environmentally friendly technologies.”
VSA has its headquarters and a pilot plant in Morganton. The company has completed research and development operations and initial production work on its recycling process for catalytic converters, which are devices that reduce toxic emissions from internal combustion engines. The company plans to expand into a larger facility in Morganton for full-scale industrial operations.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the annual average wage for the new jobs will be $30,186, not including benefits. That is above the Burke County average annual wage of $28,964.
“We selected Morganton, N.C., for its proximity to major highways and because it has one of the cheapest energy costs in the country,” said Financial Director Alex Styagov. “We were also pleased by the low property taxes, abundance of industrial space, a highly qualified workforce and city, county and state business incentive programs.”
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.
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 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners who helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Burke County, City of Morganton, N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and Duke Energy.
For more information about VSA LLC, go to: www.vsallc.com. For details about job opportunities with the company, contact the VSA office at (828) 584-9898.