Press Releases

The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.

LT Apparel Group, a leading manufacturer of childrenswear apparel is expanding operations in North Carolina with an investment of at least $57 million in Greensboro. The company’s project will add a minimum of 116 new jobs to the community and will help increase industrial capacity at the Re

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has awarded 21 Community Development Block Grant - Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) requests to local governments totaling $14.9 million.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 16 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,130,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 718 jobs, 144 of which were previously announced.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) America’s largest grocery retailer, will build a high-tech customer fulfillment center in Cabarrus County and create nearly 700 jobs over five years to support a logistics facility that will be established in the City of Concord, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Toyota will build its first North American battery manufacturing plant for a new generation of vehicles in North Carolina, creating at least 1,750 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Sherrill Furniture, a high-end furniture manufacturer, will create 90 new jobs in Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $2.9 million to open a new custom upholstery production facility in Conover.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 83 of North Carolina’s counties in October, increased in eight, and remained unchanged in nine. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.8 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 2.6 percent.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce will continue the Community Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiative (CERRI) by supporting 16 additional communities with their economic recovery following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2022 today.  The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.