Category: Business

Governor Bev Perdue announced Oct. 15 that Denver Global Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Chongqing RATO Power Company Ltd., will establish its manufacturing, distribution and R & D facilities in Lincoln County. The project was made possible in part by a Job Development Investment Grant. To meet the targets established in this performance-based grant, the company plans to create 450 jobs over four years and make a capital investment of $30.2 million in Lincoln County. The N.C. Department of Commcerce’s …

The N.C. Economic Developers Association held its annual fall conference Oct. 9-10 at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro. Speakers included gubernatorial candidates Democrat Walter Dalton and Republican Pat McCrory, who discussed their strategies for job creation and economic development in the state. Each spoke for about 30 minutes and took several questions from the audience. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Changing Face of Manufacturing.” Developments in modern manufacturing are directly impacting North Carolina communities …

RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Freshouse II, a distributor of fresh produce, will expand its operations in Rowan County.  The company plans to create 90 jobs and invest $6.3 million over the next three years in Salisbury. The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “My first priority is creating jobs. Our state’s top-notch business climate continues to attract companies like Freshouse,” said Gov. Perdue. “This expansion also …

Governor Bev Perdue announced on Oct. 5 that Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corporation, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of excavators in the Americas, will expand its operations in Kernersville. The company plans to create at least 340 jobs by the end of 2016, and invest more than $97 million in its Forsyth County facility. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant and the One North Carolina Fund. The N.C. Department …

Governor Bev Perdue on Oct. 1 announced that Bakers Waste Equipment Inc., a producer of waste containers and compactors, will locate a new facility in Caldwell County. The company plans to create 60 jobs and invest more than $2.9 million over the next three years in Lenoir. The project was made possible in part by an $180,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Bill Payne was the developer on this project. Bakers Waste Equipment …

Governor Bev Perdue on Oct. 4 announced that Unilever United States Inc., a manufacturer of personal care products, will expand its operations in Hoke County. The company plans to add 21 jobs and invest $29.9 million over the next three years in Raeford. The project was made possible in part by a $63,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Martie Butler was the developer on this project. Unilever produces personal care products, including anti-perspirants …

On Oct. 4 at Quintiles in Durham, the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle held a panel discussion on doing business in China. N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, a graduate of Harvard Business School, was one of members of the panel, composed of government, business and education leaders. Crisco, who has traveled to China twice on business development missions, stated that in 2011, Chinese companies created more than 500 jobs and invested more than $65 million in North …

Downtown Salisbury has been named one of the 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2012 by the American Planning Association. The nine other great neighborhoods are Garden District, Baton Rouge, La.; Lower Highlands and Historic Downtown, Fall River, Mass.; Fells Point, Baltimore, Md.; Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia; Cooper-Young, Memphis, Tenn.; Fairmont-Sugar House, Salt Lake City; Beacon Hill, Seattle and Downtown Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Wash. Salisbury is one of North Carolina’s and the country’s original Main Street communities. …

Governor Bev Perdue on Oct. 3 announced that Fendrich Industries Inc., a manufacturer of textiles and printed cloth fabrics, will expand its operations by locating a new division in Polk County. The company plans to create 23 jobs and invest $740,000 over the next three years in Tryon. The project was made possible in part by an $115,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Cindy Messer was the developer on this project. Fendrich Industries, …

In response to questions raised by the public, the N.C. Department of Transportation announced Oct. 2 it will begin a study on the economic impact of tolling along Interstate 95. The study, which will take six months to complete, will examine the positive and negative aspects of adding lanes on I-95 and paying for them with tolling or other funding. The department said the study will also look at what would happen if lanes or other significant improvements requiring additional …

Expo Comm China 2012 took place Sept. 18-22 at the International Exhibition Center in Beijing, with more than 500 exhibitors from 13 countries showcasing their cutting-edge solutions in information and communications technology. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Division had a booth in the USA pavilion and four North Carolina companies exhibited at the show. These included Acroprint of Raleigh, Electronic Systems Protection of Zebulon, ERD Ltd. of Kernersville, and Memscap of Durham. State of North Carolina Trade Representative …

Governor Bev Perdue and Lenovo, the world’s second-largest personal computer vendor, announced today (Oct. 2) the company will build a U.S. personal computer manufacturing line in Whitsett, near Greensboro. The announcement defies a trend that has seen electronics manufacturing jobs migrate overseas for more than two decades. As part of the expansion, Lenovo will create 115 new manufacturing jobs where workers will build both Think-branded notebook and desktop PCs for sale to domestic business, government and education customers, as well …

CertainTeed Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer of building materials, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 25 at its new Roxboro facility. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Vivian Powell was the original developer on this project. Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco spoke at the event, which also included CertainTeed President and CEO John Crowe. “Our tremendous workforce in this area is a big factor, as well as our low costs of doing business in North Carolina,” Crisco said. “We must continue to …

Honda Aircraft held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 27 for its new facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport. N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco joined Honda CEO Michimasa Fujino, Vice President Tony Piazza, Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins, and others at the event. “Nothing is as impressive in our state’s history than the invention of flight and the innovation of Wilbur and Orville Wright,” said Crisco. “That brings us forward to this day and the innovation of Honda Aircraft and …

Solar power innovator Semprius held a grand opening Sept. 26 for its new pilot production plant in Henderson. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant and One North Carolina Grant programs. To meet the targets established in these performance-based grants, the company plans to create 256 jobs over five years and make a capital investment of $89.7 million in Henderson. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Bernard Torain was the original developer …

Governor Bev Perdue announced today that Sentinel Data Centers LLC, a pioneer in the wholesale data center industry, has selected North Carolina as the location for a 420,000 square foot facility in Durham, making it the region’s first purpose-built multi-tenant data center for large-footprint users. The Sentinel NC-1 facility will be available for occupancy in early 2013 upon completion and commissioning of an initial 120,000-square-foot phase. The Sentinel NC-1 facility will ultimately yield approximately 200,000 square feet of net computer …

As budget cuts and prison closings shrink the inmate labor available to pick up trash along North Carolina highways, the N.C. Dept. of Transportation is trying to fill the gap with business sponsors who pay for litter removal by the mile. Blue signs have sprouted along Interstate 40 in Durham and Wake counties this year to promote the first handful of recruits to North Carolina’s Sponsor-A-Highway program. They range from the Angus Barn restaurant and other local stalwarts to Mixed …