XPO Logistics, a company that provides freight management, expedited transportation and freight forwarding services, will expand its national operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina, with plans to invest $688,000 and create 287 new jobs by the end of 2014 at its Ballantyne Corporate Park location.

The firm is a non-asset based, third-party provider of transportation logistics services, using a network of relationships with ground, sea and air carriers to provide the best transportation solutions for shippers. The company employs 245 people in Charlotte and has additional locations across the country and in Canada. As part of its continuing focus on growth, XPO is seeking to expand its workforce in the Charlotte facility, where shared corporate services and customer-facing service operations are based.

“We’re pleased to expand our workforce in a state that shares our focus on job creation and economic growth,” said Chief Operating Officer Sean Fernandez of XPO Logistics. “Our decision to base our national operations center in North Carolina was the right move for our company. The services we’re building in Charlotte are supporting the rapid growth of our customer base across North America.”

“XPO Logistics is a great example of the growth and success that many companies are experiencing in North Carolina,” said Gov. Pat McCrory. “Their expansion is proof of the strong presence of qualified talent and attractive quality of life that characterizes our state.”

“We are committed to creating new jobs in North Carolina and we know that a majority of those jobs will come from existing companies like XPO Logistics,” said Sharon Decker, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. “We applaud the XPO executives for their commitment to invest in North Carolina and grow their company right here in Mecklenburg County.”

The project was made possible in part by an award to XPO Logistics from the state Job Development Investment Grant program, as voted by the state Economic Investment Committee. Receipt of the award is based on proof of job creation and other performance requirements. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state, and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.

Under the terms of the company’s JDIG award, XPO Logistics is eligible to receive up to nine annual grants equal to 60 percent of the state personal income tax withholdings from the eligible new jobs created since the date of the initial award. Receipt of each annual grant is based on state-certified proof that the company has fulfilled incremental job creation and capital investment requirements. Over nine years, the JDIG award could yield aggregate benefits to XPO Logistics of up to $3,598,000.