Press Releases

Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc., a comprehensive housing and wood products company will create 129 jobs in Randolph County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company, through a new wholly owned subsidiary, will establish a manufacturing facility and invest $19.5 million in Archdale.

Woodgrain, Inc., a building products company, will create 42 new jobs in Nash County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $7.5 million to expand its door-hanging operation in Rocky Mount.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in October and decreased in one. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.5 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 3.1 percent.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October 2022 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, increasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.

Ziehl-Abegg, Inc., a manufacturer of commercial ventilation systems, will create 189 new jobs in Forsyth County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company says it will invest more than $100 million to expand its operations and relocate its North American headquarters to Winston-Salem.

The North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (

North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” November 7-11, with a variety of events that help connect veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has awarded 20 special grants to 11 local workforce development boards, totaling $8.45 million, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in September and increased in one. Warren County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent while Orange and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 2.6 percent.

Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a key source of capital for North Carolina’s emerging technology companies.