Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Husqvarna, a global leader in outdoor power equipment, will double its Charlotte workforce with the opening of a new North American headquarters. Husqvarna plans to add 160 workers over the next three years and invest $2.75 million in the project. The company currently employs 160 workers in Charlotte.
“This decision by a top international company such as Husqvarna shows what trade magazines have long said – that Charlotte is among the nation’s best places to live and do business,” Perdue said. “I will continue working aggressively to create opportunities across the state that put our people to work.”
Husqvarna is based in Sweden and employs more than 15,000 workers in 42 countries. It is the world’s largest producer of chainsaws, lawn mowers and other gas-powered garden equipment such as trimmers and leaf blowers. Its products are sold in North America under many brand names including Husqvarna, Poulan, PoulanPro, Weed Eater, Dixon, Gardena and Jonsered.
The company’s North American subsidiaries include Husqvarna U.S. Holding Inc., Husqvarna Professional Products Inc. and Husqvarna Consumer Outdoor Products N.A. Inc., among others. The company plans to consolidate its Consumer Outdoor Products subsidiary currently headquartered in Augusta, Ga., with its Professional Products headquarters in Charlotte to form one North American headquarters in Charlotte.
Mike Jones, president of Husqvarna North America/Latin America Sales and Service Division, said the decision to move the headquarters from Augusta, Ga., was not an easy one. “However, we believe consolidation will produce operational efficiency and synergy across multiple areas, driving increased speed to market for many of our products.”
Jones continued, “We agree with the Governor that Charlotte is one of the top areas of the country to live and work. The area has a strong, educated work force and excellent access to transportation. We are appreciative of the efforts of the representatives from the North Carolina Office of the Governor, Mecklenburg County, City of Charlotte and Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. The incentives offered are making the economics of this possible."
While salaries will vary by job type, the overall average annual wage for the 160 new jobs will be $79,453, not including benefits. That is significantly higher than the Mecklenburg County average of $48,776.
“During these tough economic times, it’s critical to make the right investments to bring high-paying jobs to the area,” said Sen. Malcolm Graham. “We welcome these new jobs to Charlotte.”
“Our tremendous workforce continues to be our biggest asset to attracting global companies and new jobs to the state,” said Rep. Beverly Earle. “We are glad Husqvarna will call Charlotte home to its North American headquarters.”
To facilitate this project, the state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Husqvarna. JDIGs are performance-based incentive grants awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industries whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant. Companies receive no up-front funds and must meet job, wage and investment targets to receive grant payments.
Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 55 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 Husqvarna meets the targets called for under the agreement and sustains them for nine years, the JDIG could yield as much as $2.5 million in maximum benefits for the company.
In addition, up to $840,000 could be added to the state’s Industrial Development Fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties. When a JDIG is awarded in the state’s more economically prosperous counties such as Mecklenburg, 25 percent of the grant is allocated to the Industrial Development Fund to encourage economic development in less prosperous counties.
Other partners that assisted with this announcement include: The N.C. Department of Commerce, City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Charlotte Chamber.
For more information about Husqvarna, including job opportunities, visit www.husqvarna.com and click on “Husqvarna Group” at the top of the page.