Press Releases

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that 30 local governments in rural areas across the state have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, a new source of support for rural economic development projects in North Carolina funded by the federal American Rescue Plan.

Cabinet manufacturer Design Mode Cabinetry will create 139 new jobs in Duplin County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $13 million to establish a manufacturing facility in the Town of Warsaw.

Snack food company, Lotus Bakeries, will create 62 new jobs in Alamance County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. In a second expansion in a year, the company will invest more than $84 million to add a new production facility at its Mebane location.

North Carolina is one of two states that has received Area Development magazine’s inaugural 2022 Platinum Shovel award which recognizes states that went beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation. Tennessee is the second state receiving the honor.

Dymax Corporation, a global chemical and plastics manufacturer, will open a new manufacturing center and create 227 jobs in Union County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $46.7 million in the City of Monroe.

D’Artagnan, Inc., a specialty food company distributor, will create 23 new jobs in Granville County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4 million to locate a warehouse and distribution facility in the City of Oxford.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 83 of North Carolina’s counties in April, increased in four, and remained unchanged in 13. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent while Orange and Chatham Counties each had the lowest at 2.6 percent.

Hans Kissle Company, a fresh foods manufacturer, will create 219 new jobs in Gaston County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $42.2 million to build a food manufacturing facility in Apple Creek Corporate Center.

Nineteen rural communities from across the state have been selected to participate in a unique new program to increase their capacity to plan, implement, and manage economic development programs and opportunities.  The Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program, a pilot initiative from the Comme

The state’s seasonally adjusted April 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from March’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent.