Proclamation of N.C. Manufacturing Week, September 29 - October 5 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

Governor Cooper Salutes Manufacturing with a Proclamation
    Governor Roy Cooper is committed to improving the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians by building an economy that works for everyone. With the largest workforce in the Southeast, manufacturing is integral to the success of every sector of our state's growing economy. He will sign a proclamation declaring September 30 - October 5, 2019 as North Carolina Manufacturing Week.

    In the last two years:

• Governor Cooper announced Egger Wood Products' first U.S. state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will create up to 770 jobs in Davidson County and contribute an estimated $1 billion to North Carolina's economy.
• Governor Cooper announced Greenheck Group's decision to expand their manufacturing facility in Cleveland County with a $58.8 million investment that will create 403 new jobs for the ventilation company.
• The Regional Advanced Manufacturing Pipeline for Eastern North Carolina, RAMP East, launched to help strengthen the manufacturing workforce for 2,500 new jobs.

    As the state's CEO, Governor Cooper leads the fifth largest manufacturing economy in the United States with North Carolina's manufacturers contributing $104.9 billion to our gross domestic product. Studies show that for every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, $1.82 is generated for North Carolina's economy.

    In 2018, 95% of North Carolina's record-breaking $32.7 billion exports were manufactured goods spanning pharmaceuticals, transportation equipment, aircraft and automotive components, machinery and technology industries.

    Since Governor Cooper took office, North Carolina has added 22,210 manufacturing jobs with $6.44 billion investment, growing our manufacturing workforce to more than 470,000 people for 10,219 manufacturers.

    North Carolina manufacturers have benefited from an excellent business climate with low costs and the nation's lowest corporate income tax rate of 2.5%. To date, 28 Fortune 500 manufacturers have established their headquarters in North Carolina.

    Jobs are created when communities are prepared to attract companies. Through collaboration and local leadership, programs such as Hometown Strong have given rural communities greater access to state government. Governor Cooper's Hometown Strong program was the catalyst for Downtown Strong, a program that helps rural communities build their local government capacity with the economic development planning and revitalization resources and guidance through N.C. Commerce.

    Programs like RAMP East are the work of collaboration between manufacturing companies, local governments, K-12 educators and the North Carolina Community College System. North Carolina's 58 community colleges offer more than 800 courses for manufacturing skills in biotechnology, aviation and defense, pharmaceuticals and other advanced manufacturing industries.

    During North Carolina Manufacturing Week, Governor Cooper and his Cabinet will raise awareness about manufacturing across our state:

• Governor Cooper will sign a Manufacturing Week proclamation in Winston-Salem at Collins Aerospace on Tuesday, October 1.
• Governor Cooper will participate in the Honeywell Headquarters Groundbreaking Ceremony in Charlotte on Thursday, October 3.
• Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland will announce the expansion of two manufacturing companies in rural North Carolina.
• Chief Deputy Secretary of Commerce Liz Crabill will speak at the Educators in Industry Manufacturing Day celebration at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Asheville on Friday, October 4.

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov