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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Corning Incorporated Plans Major Expansion at Edgecombe County-Durham Plant Sites

12/15/2017
Corning Incorporated, a world leading innovator in materials science, will invest a total of $275 million to expand its two manufacturing sites in The Tar Heel State, with funding of $86 million slated at its Edgecombe County production plant and approximately $189 million proposed at its facility in Durham, North Carolina.

The company expects to create a total of 428 jobs over three years, with 111 new jobs proposed in Edgecombe County and 317 new jobs in Durham County. Associates will provide future support for the company’s new pharmaceutical glass packaging product, Valor Glass, and potential growth from other Corning businesses in North Carolina and elsewhere.

“We are excited to expand our operations in North Carolina. In Edgecombe County, we plan to build a state-of-the-art warehouse facility that will serve our Corning businesses,” said Eric S. Musser, Executive Vice President, Corning Technologies and International.

“We also plan to expand an existing Corning facility because the talented local workforce possesses a high level of commitment and professionalism. We would like to thank Governor Cooper and Secretary Copeland and all local leaders for their partnership and investment to support businesses in the state. They are building a bright future for the region,” he added.

Corning’s projects in Durham and Edgecombe counties will be facilitated, in part, by two Job Development Investment Grants (JDIGs) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 12-year terms of each grant, the project will add an estimated $1.157 billion to North Carolina’s economy.

Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement for the Durham County location authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $3,215,250, spread over 12 years. This grant is contingent upon Durham County offering local incentives, as local participation is a requirement with JDIG awards in Tier 3 counties. The JDIG associated with the Edgecombe County location authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,236,000.

State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

The JDIG agreement in Durham County also calls for moving as much as $1.07 million into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business.

“Corning knows first-hand that our state’s talented workforce and ideal location provide clear advantages for a growing company,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This decision to bring new jobs to both Eastern North Carolina and the Triangle demonstrates confidence in workers in both the rural and urban parts of our state to produce and distribute this groundbreaking new product.”

“Successful economic development strategies for the state’s rural areas must involve creative approaches like we’re seeing with today’s decision from Corning,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “By including Edgecombe County in the project’s scope, the company confirms the state-wide strength North Carolina offers the life science industry.”

Partnering with N.C. Commerce and the EDPNC on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Durham County, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners, Durham Technical Community College, Edgecombe Community College, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.

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