Press Releases

(RALEIGH) Today Governor Stein announced that the North Carolina Department of Commerce, on behalf of the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, & Innovation, has awarded 

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 counties in July 2026. Edgecombe and Halifax Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.8 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.9 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent. 

North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley on Monday delivered more than 1,500 school supplies collected by Commerce employees to Northwest Elementary School in Kinston as part of the Governor’s School Supply Drive.

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that Boater’s World Manufacturing Group, LLC will create 179 new jobs in Beaufort County. The company says it will invest more than $6 million to establish a boat manufacturing campus in Chocowinity.

Today Governor Josh Stein announced ProVia LLC, a manufacturer of exterior building products, will create 400 jobs in Davie County. The company will invest $120 million to build a window manufacturing facility in Mocksville to serve the southeastern United States.

Today Governor Stein, the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s (NCDOC) Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) announced 10 projects to develop 828 new rental units will receive awards totaling more than $69 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. This federal funding will expand the supply of affordable, resilient rental housing in western North Carolina.

Today the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes $53.38 million in federal funding available to develop workforce housing units for homeownership across western North Carolina.

Today Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley celebrated the National Science Foundation’s selection of the NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas as one of only 12 new NSF Regional Innovation Engines nationwide. This prestigious designation recognizes the strength of a regional partnership that will accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and create new economic opportunities.

Today Governor Josh Stein announced Great Southern Wood-NC, Inc. (GSWNC), a manufacturer of pressure-treated lumber, will create 43 jobs in Scotland County. The company will invest $40 million to construct a lumber treatment manufacturing facility at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.“We are excited that Great Southern Wood has decided to plant roots in North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This new facility will strengthen our $41 billion forestry industry and offer more opportunities in Scotland County and beyond.”

The state’s seasonally adjusted July 2026 unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from June’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.1 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 21,291 over the month to 5,051,914 and decreased 38,951 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 3,820 over the month to 186,120 and decreased 17,752 over the year.