Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that LANXESS, a manufacturer of high-tech plastics, rubber and chemicals, will locate a new facility in Gaston County. The company plans to create 55 jobs and invest $15 million during the next three years in Gastonia. The project was made possible in part by a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“When we recruit companies to locate in North Carolina, advanced manufacturing is one of our targeted industries,” Gov. Perdue said. “The high-tech demands of companies like LANXESS are a perfect match for our highly skilled workers.”
LANXESS Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of the German company LANXESS AG, manufactures a wide range of specialty chemicals and polymers throughout the United States. The Gaston County project will manufacture high-tech polyamide (nylon) and thermoplastic polyester (PBT) compounds that enable engineers to design, as an example, lighter and safer parts for automobiles. Increased fuel efficiency standards are driving demand for these advanced materials.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the company anticipates that the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $41,047 plus benefits. The Gaston County average annual wage is $33,956.
”We are very happy with our decision to join the Gastonia community. North Carolina offers an attractive mix of assets and resources that will help our business succeed, and it is a great place to live and work,” said Randy Dearth, LANXESS Corporation President and CEO.
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 50,000 jobs and $9 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, the Gaston County Economic Development Commission, Gaston County and the City of Gastonia.
For more information about LANXESS, including job opportunities, go to www.lanxess.us.