North Carolina’s economic health seems strong. Taxes are low, cost of living is below average, and a recent CNBC study gave the state a No. 2 ranking as “Best for Business” because of solid growth, quality workforce, business friendliness, and technology.
Governor Roy Cooper has declared it North Carolina Manufacturing Week. With the largest workforce in the Southeast, manufacturing remains essential to the success of every sector of our state’s economy as manufacturing operations continue amid the global pandemic.
North Carolina’s economy has enjoyed a substantial recovery from the depths of the Great Suppression — that is, from the COVID-19 downturn of 2020. Most businesses are back up and operating. So are schools and universities. More employees than ever before are working from home. That’s had positive consequences for worker satisfaction and traffic congestion (although the consequences for productivity are admittedly unclear). State government is flush with revenue. North Carolina’s headline unemployment rate was just 4.3% in August.
The income of the median American household fell by nearly 3% last year as the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent regulations shuttered many businesses for months, closed others for good, and forced still other employers to cut back on hours and wages for the people they still employed.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, will create 290 new jobs in Pitt County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $154 million to expand its pharmaceutical manufacturing operations in Greenville.
When North Carolinians are free to trade with whomever they choose, be it South Carolinians or South Koreans, some local businesses may lose sales. The case for markets isn’t based on promises of cost-free benefits or perfect outcomes. No such promises could ever be honored in the real world.
The Crump Group Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of all natural, limited ingredient pet treats will locate its first production facility in the United States in Nash County, creating 160 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $13.2 million to outfit a new manufacturing and distribution center in Nashville.
The NFIB Research Center released today a new tax survey of small business owners assessing their biggest tax challenges, implications of potential changes to the tax code, and how tax policy impacts business operations. Most notably, federal income and payroll taxes are significant costs and administrative burdens for small businesses.
Nature’s Value Inc., a global contract vitamin and dietary supplements manufacturer, that will create more than 183 new jobs in Forsyth County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will be expanding its manufacturing operations to Winston-Salem with an investment exceeding $19 million.
Steffes, LLC, a steel fabrication company, will create 130 new jobs in Cleveland County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $20.9 million to locate a new manufacturing facility in the City of Shelby.
Amgen Inc., the pioneering biotechnology company, will build a new biologics manufacturing operation in Holly Springs, creating 355 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company intends to invest $550 million in Wake County.