Press Releases

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.

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. 

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 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.

MasterBrand Cabinets, one of the largest cabinet manufacturers in North America, will expand its operations in Lenoir County to create more than 450 jobs over five years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 4.6 percent.

Hosokawa Custom Processing Services, a contract chemical processor, will create 16 new jobs in Wayne County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $6.5 million to relocate a processing center to Goldsboro.