Press Releases

The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from November’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), a global healthcare and biopharmaceutical company, will invest over $470 million and create more than 460 new jobs in Durham, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center selected Graham, Manteo, Mebane, Murphy, Pilot Mountain and Zebulon for the Center’s Downtown Associate Community Program, Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland announced today. 

North Carolina jumps forward two places nationally in an overall measure of innovation capacity, according to the 2019 Tracking Innovation report released today by the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the Finish Line Grants program has issued more than 3,000 grants and $2 million since the program was announced in July 2018.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a provider of baked desserts, treats and snacks, will create 108 jobs as it expands its food manufacturing center in Edgecombe County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest an additional $19.8 million in the bakery, located in Tarboro.

LLFlex, a leader in packaging materials and industrial laminate solutions, will create 46 new jobs in Guilford County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $7.6 million to locate a facility in High Point.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 92 of North Carolina’s counties in November, increased in four, and remained the same in four. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.5 percent.

Jessica Englert will become the North Carolina Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary of the Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS), Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland has announced.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland has named David Spratley, an experienced financial and economic development executive, as the department’s Senior Assistant Secretary of Finance.