Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that BAE Systems, Inc., one of the country’s leading aerospace, defense and security companies, will open a service center in the Charlotte area for its internal Human Resources and Finance operations.
The company plans to create 176 jobs and will invest $3 million as part of the project, which was made possible in part by a state grant from the Job Development Investment Grant program.
“National publications say we are among the states leading the nation out of the recession. This is possible because companies like BAE Systems appreciate the value of the investments we have made in education and workforce training,” said Gov. Perdue. “My top priority is creating jobs, and we are leading the nation in job growth, both by recruiting new companies to North Carolina and by helping old friends grow larger and thrive.”
With more than 50,000 employees, BAE Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The service center addresses a critical need to provide cost effective and consistent services that will allow the company to continue to be a leader in meeting the needs of its customers across the U.S. government.
“The consolidation of all of our company-wide processes and services for Human Resources and Finance into one shared services center is essential to improving performance, reducing costs and improving competitiveness,” said Linda Hudson, president and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc.
Hudson said Charlotte was selected after a nationwide search for a location with skilled talent, easy access, suitable facilities and an affordable life-style.
“We appreciate the leadership of Gov. Bev Perdue and other government officials who have worked diligently with us to make this a reality. This is good news for Charlotte and good news for BAE Systems.” Hudson said.While individual wages for the 176 jobs will vary by job function, the overall average for the new jobs will be $51,392 a year, not including benefits. The Mecklenburg County average annual wage is $48,776.
The state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to BAE Systems. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.
Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 60 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each of the nine years in which the company meets annual performance targets. If BAE Systems meets the targets called for under the agreement and sustains them for nine years, the JDIG could yield $1.9 million in maximum benefits for the company.
Other partners that assisted with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, the Charlotte Chamber, the Charlotte Regional Partnership and the North Carolina Military Foundation.
Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state continues to work aggressively to create well-paying jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about BAE Systems, including job opportunities, visit www.baesystems.com