GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 165 JOBS IN PITT COUNTY
One North Carolina Fund Grant Helps CMI Plastics Relocate to Ayden
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today announced CMI Plastics will open a manufacturing facility in Pitt County, creating 165 jobs and investing $7.1 million during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $300,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.
"North Carolina is a national leader in attracting firms such as CMI Plastics that are providing 21st century jobs," said Easley. "With more than 42,000 people working in the plastics industry in our state, it is clear our workforce has the knowledge, talent and skill these companies need to grow."
Founded in 1939, CMI Plastics will move its operations from Cranbury, N.J. to Ayden. The company specializes in three-dimensional thermoformed plastics and packaging. While wages will vary by job function, the average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $633 plus benefits, which is more than the Pitt County average wage of $479 not including benefits. North Carolina is the eighth leading state in the nation for plastics employment according to the Society of the Plastics Industry.
"This relocation and expansion are necessary in order to accommodate our rapidly growing business and to keep us contending with our main competitors that have overseas operations," says Steve Hasselbach, Jr., president of CMI. "Pitt County has offered us a great opportunity to expand our business in a place with all of the factors we were looking for; support from the community, low overhead, high availability of employees and a wonderful environment to nurture and grow our business and our families."
The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. One North Carolina Fund grants require and are contingent upon a local match. Through the use of this Fund, more than 25,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001.
"As a member of the Senate Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will continue to work to implement programs that provide employers an educated and trainable workforce," said state Sen. John Kerr (D-Wayne,Greene, Pitt).
"I am proud to be a part of the policies and programs that the General Assembly has approved to create a business environment that convinces companies to locate here," said state Rep. Marian McLawhorn (D-Pitt).
"This decision demonstrates that our state's economic development strategies are working to bring new jobs to citizens who need and want them," said state Rep. Edith Warren (D-Martin, Pitt).
Other partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, Pitt County, the Town of Ayden, Pitt Community College, the Pitt County Committee of 100 and East Carolina University.
For more information about the company and employment opportunities, please visit http://www.cmiplastics.com/ or call (877) 395-1920.