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February 28, 2017

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The 14th Caldwell is Hiring has been scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center from 8 a.m. until noon.

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February 27, 2017

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JBS will be seeking to fill 100 positions during a job fair on Thursday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center In Lenoir.

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February 17, 2017

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White Wholesale Tire Company, Inc. has been awarded an N.C. Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant in order to make renovations to a 6,030-square-foot building at the corner of Harper and Pennton Avenues in Lenoir.

Facilitated by the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, along with the City of Lenoir, the $50,000 grant will be used to convert the building to its original use as a tire and service center.

The company – which also operates tire centers in Burke, Catawba, and Rowan counties – plans to create 10 new full-time jobs within the next two years.

“We are going to make it a top-notch retail store that is going to look good for the city of Lenoir,” White Wholesale Tire Company Corporate Secretary Wendy Barlowe said. “It’s one of the first things you see as you go into the downtown area.”

Barlowe said renovations would begin immediately and should be completed no later than the end of summer. Along with tires, the business plans to offer oil changes, alignments, and state inspections. Barlowe added that mechanical service could be a possibility in the future.

“This is part of expanding our business,” Barlowe said. “If we expand in the retail level, then that also expands our wholesale level.”

Caldwell County EDC Executive Director Deborah Murray said the grant furthers the county’s economic momentum that has shown sustained growth in both retail and industrial sectors.

“We are excited to add a wholesaler and retailer with an excellent track record to Caldwell County,” Murray said. “And we are equally excited that this company’s investment will improve the entry way into Lenoir.”

The building dates back to 1970 when it was built by the Firestone Company as a tire center. Acquired by the New York Times on behalf of the News-Topic newspaper in 1993, the building has been vacant for the past two years.

“We hope to have 100 percent satisfaction,” Barlowe said. “We want to provide a nice, clean facility with store managers that know what they are talking about. We hope to have repeat customers.”

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February 8, 2017

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The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners have approved incentives for six companies to create up to 300 jobs with more than $10 million a year in new wages.

Caldwell County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Deborah Murray said it was the most job incentive requests brought before the county commission at one time. The incentives would provide each company with $2,000 for every job that is actually created, documented, and maintained.

“We have been working at a pretty fast and furious pace, and it’s just indicative of the number of companies that are in our pipeline right now,” Murray said. “Folks are very positive about the economy right now.”

The largest number of jobs would be added by JBS USA, a subsidiary of Swift Beef, that operates a meat processing plant (formerly Vantage Foods) and hopes to add 100 full-time jobs during the next year.

An existing Caldwell County manufacturer, identified as Project Blue Sky, is planning to renovate vacant buildings already on its property and expand operations, adding 50 jobs over two years that would pay above the county average, Murray said. The company also is applying for a state grant for nearly $500,000 to assist with renovation costs.

A potential new company, Ryan-All Door Systems, based in California, is considering moving manufacturing of plastic and wood door systems to the United States from China, where it has been since 2007. Caldwell County is among the sites being considered. The company also has distribution operations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The company’s plans call for investing more than $1.5 million and creating 50 jobs over three years.

Another existing Caldwell County company, identified as Project Decade, expects to create 40 full-time positions within three years by expanding its manufacturing, packaging, and warehousing facilities. The company plans to invest $2.5 million in construction, as well as more in machinery and equipment.

Amp Services, which distributes and manufactures LED lighting in Granite Falls, expects to invest $5 million on an expansion that will create up to 35 full-time positions over two years. The company plans to buy its current building, which it has been leasing, along with two buildings adjacent to it. The company also plans to apply for a state grant in order to renovate the buildings.

Automated Solutions, which has manufacturing facilities in Sawmills and Lenoir, expects to add 20 full-time positions over the next year, while also adding more equipment and a second shift to its operations.

“We have a good, strong local economy that is growing and sees really good futures … We’re in a good place for folks to want to come (to Caldwell),” Murray said.

By Briana Adhikusuma, (Lenoir) News-Topic

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February 6, 2017

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C Con Metals USA, located in Granite Falls, celebrated the renovation of a building at 121 Falls Avenue with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Joined by Granite Falls, Caldwell County, and state officials, the event marked the transformation of the site and the successful completion of the company’s building re-use grant and local jobs incentive.

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February 2, 2017

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A day many people have been waiting for finally arrived with the official opening of the Chick-fil-A restaurant at Lenoir Crossing Shopping Center in Lenoir.

The 100 individuals who had camped out, including one who arrived shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, were presented with a free chicken promotion. Local officials and Chick-fil-A representatives took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.

The restaurant will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.