Corning Incorporated will create 428 jobs over three years in North Carolina, as it locates a warehouse facility in Edgecombe County and expands manufacturing operations in Durham County to produce a new glass product for pharmaceutical packaging.
Corning, a world-leading innovator in materials science, will invest $275 million between the two sites, with $86 million slated for the warehouse in Edgecombe County and approximately $189 million at the Durham location. The company will create 111 new jobs in Edgecombe County and proposes 317 new jobs in Durham. The jobs will provide future support for the company’s new pharmaceutical glass packaging product, Valor Glass, and potential growth from other Corning businesses in North Carolina and elsewhere.
“Corning knows firsthand that our state’s talented workforce and ideal location provide clear advantages for a growing company,” state Gov. Roy Cooper said. “This decision to bring new jobs to both Eastern North Carolina and the Triangle demonstrates confidence in workers in both the rural and urban parts of our state to produce and distribute this groundbreaking new product.”
Corning has brought innovative health products to the pharmaceutical market for more than 100 years. Corning Valor Glass packaging, introduced in July, offers superior chemical durability, strength and damage resistance. This expansion is expected to provide a high-volume manufacturing site for the Valor Glass product.
“Successful economic development strategies for the state’s rural areas must involve creative approaches like we’re seeing with today’s decision from Corning,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “By including Edgecombe County in the project’s scope, the company confirms the statewide strength North Carolina offers the life science industry.”
Corning will add a variety of positions at each location. The average wage will be $65,999 at the proposed facility in Durham County and $33,771 in Edgecombe County, in-line with average wages in each location.
“We are excited to expand our operations in North Carolina. In Edgecombe County, we plan to build a state-of-the-art warehouse facility that will serve our Corning businesses,” said Eric S. Musser, executive vice president of Corning Technologies and International. “We also plan to expand an existing Corning facility because the talented local workforce possesses a high level of commitment and professionalism.”
Each of the two Corning projects will be supported, in part, by state Job Development Investment Grants (JDIGs). Over the course of the grants’ 12-year terms, the projects will add an estimated $1.157 billion to North Carolina’s economy. Under the JDIG agreements, the company could receive up $3,215,250 over 12 years for the Durham County expansion and up to $1,236,000 over 12 years for the Edgecombe County facility. State payments, which factor in tax revenue generated by the new jobs, only occur after the company meets it annual job creation and investment commitments.
Senior Business Recruitment Manager Melissa Smith of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina supported this project in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the state General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Durham County, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners, Durham Technical Community College, Edgecombe Community College, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.
Interested in locating or growing your business in North Carolina? Email our business recruitment team or call us at 919-447-7744.