Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Pate Dawson Company, a foodservice distributor, will locate a new facility in Iredell County. The company plans to create 49 jobs and invest $8.5 million over the next three years in Statesville. The project was made possible in part by a $150,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“Creating jobs is my top priority, and Pate Dawson’s choice to locate this facility in Iredell County is a testament to our excellent workforce and strong business climate,” Gov. Perdue said. “One of the best ways to grow jobs is help home-grown companies, like Pate Dawson, expand their operations right here in North Carolina.”
Based in Goldsboro, Pate Dawson Company is a fifth-generation, family-owned company with a 126-year history in North Carolina. The company currently employs more than 390 at its distribution facilities in Goldsboro and Greensboro. Pate Dawson delivers food products to chain account restaurants and more than 1000 independent restaurants throughout the Southeast.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $47,531, plus benefits. The Iredell County average annual wage is $36,348.
“We are excited about opening a new distribution center in Statesville,” said Pate Dawson Chief Executive Officer Malcolm ‘Mac’ Sullivan, who participated in making the announcement today with Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. “This community and the people we have met feel like home. Our view of business and relationships is generational, so we look forward to being part of this community and growing here for years to come.”
“This new distribution facility will allow us to be closer to serve many of our foodservice customers and to enhance efficiency with all of our shipping locations,” said Pate Dawson President David Stansfield. “We also have the capacity to expand in the future.”
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 55,000 jobs and $11 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, Iredell County, the City of Statesville, and ElectriCities.
For more information about Pate Dawson Company, including job opportunities, go to www.pdco.com.