Governor Announces 199 New Jobs in Rockingham County -
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 199 JOBS IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
One North Carolina Fund Grant Helps General Tobacco Open in Mayodan
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that General Tobacco will open a manufacturing facility in Rockingham County, creating 199 jobs and investing $50 million over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $400,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.
“General Tobacco’s decision to open a facility in North Carolina shows that one of the state’s traditional industries can still be successful in today’s global economy,” Easley said. “North Carolina is committed to continuing to invest in education and workforce development to keep the state a destination for businesses looking to expand and grow.”
General Tobacco, headquartered in Miami, Fla., makes cigarettes and tobacco products. General Tobacco was founded in 1997 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Vibo Corporation. While wages will vary by job function, the average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $750 plus benefits, which is higher than the Rockingham County average weekly wage of $555 not including benefits. The company will open a manufacturing facility in Mayodan in the former Unifi building.
“With the support provided by the state, Rockingham County and the city of Mayodan, North Carolina provides a fantastic opportunity for General Tobacco to begin manufacturing its nationally known brands – Bronco, GT One, Silver, 32°, and Vaquero Little Cigars in the U.S.A.,” said General Tobacco’s Executive Vice President J. Ronald Denman. “North Carolina is historically known for producing some of the best tobacco products in the country and we look forward to bringing jobs and industry to an area of North Carolina that appears to be suited to General Tobacco’s needs.”
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 25,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001.
“I am proud of the cooperation between private business, state and local government that helped bring General Tobacco to Rockingham County,” said state Rep. Nelson Cole, D-Rockingham. “I will continue to work in the House of Representatives for policies that smooth the way for businesses to grow and succeed in our state.”
Partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, Rockingham County Partnership for Economic Development and Tourism, the Town of Mayodan, Rockingham Community College and Duke Energy.
For more information about employment opportunities, email resumes to GTNC@generaltobacco.com or fax to 305-513-9812.
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