GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 70 JOBS IN RICHMOND COUNTY
$60,000 One North Carolina Fund Grant Helps APG-Meridian Expand

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that APG-Meridian will open a plant in Richmond County, creating 70 jobs and investing $2.5 million over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $60,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.

"APG-Meridian’s decision to open a plant in North Carolina is a testament to our No. 1 ranked business climate," Easley said. "We will continue to make the right investments in workforce development, education and infrastructure so that we can continue to succeed in today’s global economy."

APG-Meridian is a maker of aluminum fences, gates and railings and is headquartered in Pompano Beach, Fla. The agency will open a new plant in Hamlet by October that will manufacture aluminum fences, gates and railing systems for the residential and commercial construction industries. While wages will vary by job function, the anticipated average weekly wage for the new jobs is $478 plus benefits, which is more than the Richmond County average weekly wage of $463, not including benefits.

"After entertaining offers from several other states, we chose North Carolina for our expansion," said Sam Kafin, president of APG-Meridian. "The business-friendly atmosphere, quality of life and proximity to other major markets all played a role in our decision. We are looking forward to growing in and with the state of North Carolina for years to come."

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. One North Carolina Fund grants require and are contingent upon a local match. Through the use of this Fund, more than 19,000 jobs and $3 billion in investment have been generated since 2001.

Other partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, Richmond County, the city of Hamlet, North Carolina Southeast Regional Partnership, Progress Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.

For more information about the company and employment opportunities, visit www.swedgelock.com, or contact the company’s human resource department at 800 886-FENCE.