Press Releases

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 11 grant requests August 22 to local governments totaling $3,767,500, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced. The requests include commitments to create a total of 245 jobs, 54 of which were previously announced.

Hockmeyer Equipment Corporation, a process equipment maker, will create 90 new jobs as it expands its operations in Pasquotank County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $6 million with an expansion in Elizabeth City.

The state’s seasonally adjusted July unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, remaining unchanged from June’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged from June’s revised rate of 3.7 percent.

Record visitor spending in 2018 was reflected with visitor spending increases in all 100 counties, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

The NCWorks Commission gave formal approval to the state’s first Energy Career Pathway during its quarterly meeting on Aug. 7, held at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont in Charlotte.

Xerox (NYSE: XRX), a Fortune 500 technology company, will build a new Center of Excellence in Cary, creating 600 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $18.4 million in Wake County.

Telephonics Corporation, a communication system company, will create 75 jobs as it expands its operations in Pasquotank County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $5.5 million in a new facility, located in Elizabeth City.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 97 of North Carolina’s counties in June and decreased in three. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.4 percent.

Public comments are being accepted through August 19 on proposed amendments to the Criteria for Operation and Implementation of the Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund program.

Merck (NYSE: MRK), a leading global biopharmaceutical company, will invest more than $650 million and create more than 400 jobs in North Carolina, building a new production facility at its Maurice R.