Gov. Bev Perdue continued her steady focus on putting North Carolinians back to work.
“My top priority is creating jobs, and our top-ranked business climate continues to both attract new companies and help existing ones expand,” Gov. Perdue said.
This week, American Roller Bearing Industries (A.R.B.) announced its plans to expand in Burke and Alexander counties. The company, which manufactures anti-friction bearings for industrial equipment, expects to create 231 jobs over five years and invest between $3 million and $5 million. The company moved its manufacturing operations to North Carolina in the 1980s and relocated its corporate office to Hickory in 2007.
“Companies such as A.R.B. continue to choose North Carolina because our past investments in education have created a highly-skilled workforce,” Gov. Perdue said.
A.R.B. currently employs more than 340 people in North Carolina.
Also this week, Gov. Perdue signed into law House Bill 796, which will help expand the craft brewery industry in North Carolina, create new jobs and further improve the state’s overall business climate.
“This bill will fuel the expansion of an industry that has already put down roots in North Carolina,” Gov. Perdue said.
The legislation will allow all breweries to offer tastings and sell their products on-site, a change aimed at drawing new breweries — and new jobs — to North Carolina. In recent years, the state has seen a sharp growth in small craft breweries, and the new law will help attract new breweries that also serve as tourist destinations.
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| Gov. Perdue helped break ground on Campbell University’s new School of Osteopathic Medicine. |
Also this week, Gov. Perdue joined members of the Campbell University Board of Trustees and other school officials at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the University’s new School of Osteopathic Medicine, which will bring new jobs to Harnett County and educate new doctors to help fill the shortage of primary care physicians in North Carolina.
“This school will produce well-trained physicians at a time when, in nearly half our counties, there are more residents who are over the age of 60 than under 17,” Gov. Perdue said. “At the same time, the new school will add 100 new jobs to Campbell, Harnett County’s largest employer, for a total economic impact of nearly $300 million dollars.”
Campbell is opening North Carolina’s fifth school of medicine, a $60 million project expected to graduate 150 doctors of osteopathic medicine in the fall of 2013.
On Friday, Gov. Perdue joined executives from BSH Home Appliances Corporation in announcing that the company will make an investment into a new dishwasher line in New Bern. This investment is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs over the next four years.
With an estimated 80 percent of BSH associates residing in Craven County, this will provide a tremendous economic boost for Craven and the surrounding counties.
“Continuing to support the county that our factories have resided in for 14-years now is a true honor,” said Stefan Koss, chief financial officer of BSH Home Appliances Corporation. “We are excited to be playing an active role hiring employees today and training the workers of tomorrow; we believe the future is very bright for BSH in New Bern and we look forward to our continued expansion.”
This announcement follows the recent opening of a new customer service call center at the New Bern location. Once fully staffed, the call center will employ 30 factory-trained representatives that will assist customers throughout North America.