Metal Processor to Create 44 Jobs in Wayne County

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Joseph T. Ryerson & Son Inc., a leading distributor and processor of metals, will expand its presence in Pikeville by moving into a second building and growing its fabrication facility. The company plans to create 44 jobs and invest $3 million over the next three years in Wayne County. The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
 
“One of the best ways to create new jobs is to create an environment that helps existing companies expand,” Gov. Perdue said. “Ryerson is expanding in Wayne County because our investments in education, transportation and infrastructure have built a skilled and motivated workforce and a supportive business climate, especially for the manufacturing industry.”  
 
Ryerson, based in Chicago, Ill., processes and distributes metals that include stainless and carbon steel, aluminum products, brass and copper. The company sells these metals in sheets, coils, plates, bars and other shapes, as needed by their customers. Ryerson also fabricates parts for various industries including rail cars, heavy equipment, agricultural equipment, wind turbines and others.  In addition to the Pikeville facility, the company has service centers in Charlotte, Greensboro and Youngsville.  
 
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average wage will be $33,540.  The average annual wage in Wayne County is $29,848.
 
“This new facility along with the burning and fabrication equipment will give us the resources necessary to grow our plate and fabrication business in the Southeast. Wayne County is an ideal location with its proximity to steel suppliers, highways and a solid labor pool” said Brad Ford, Ryerson’s Vice-President and General Manager for the Carolinas Virginia Market.
 
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.  Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
 
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate.  Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
 
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 60,000 jobs and $11 billion in investment have been created since 2001.  Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, and Wayne County.
 
For more information about Ryerson, including job opportunities, visit www.ryerson.com.