From staff reports
Person County scored an economic development coup last week with the announcement that Force Protection Inc., a South Carolina company that makes mine- and blast-protected vehicles for the armed forces, will open a manufacturing facility at the former Collins & Aikman plant north of Roxboro.
The project will create 270 jobs and a private investment of $31 million during the next four years.
“The military presence in North Carolina has an $18 billion impact on our economy,” said North Carolina Governor Mike Easley in making the announcement. “Our focus on being the most military-friendly state in the nation attracts defense-related businesses that want to grow and expand.”
Founded in 1997, Force Protection is a publicly traded corporation in Ladson, S.C. To meet the increase in demand for its vehicles, the company will convert the vacant Collins & Aikman plant into a manufacturing facility for current and future products, including its new “Cheetah” vehicle line.
The vehicle combines state-of-the-art, anti-blast protection with the speed and handling of a lightweight utility vehicle.
Wages for the new jobs will vary by skill and job description, but the overall average pay for will be around $30,276 a year plus benefits, which is more than the county wage standard of $28,496 not including benefits.
“Force Protection is excited about establishing this significant new manufacturing capability in North Carolina,” said Dan Busher, Force Protection executive vice president. “North Carolina and Person County understand the urgency of delivering more of our life-saving products to our armed forces and have worked with us to identify the right set of facilities and resources to accomplish that mission. The broad-based community involvement in understanding our needs and proposing solutions has really been outstanding.”
To lure Force Protection to Person County, the state awarded $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, which boosts 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 are contingent upon local matches. Through the use of this Fund, more than 20,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001.
In addition, the state’s Economic Investment Committee will award a Job Development Investment Grant to facilitate this project. This is the 62nd grant awarded since the program began in 2003 and the seventh awarded this year.
“I am proud of the way state and local officials have worked together to bring this important new company to Person County,” said state Rep. W.A. “Winkie” Wilkins (D-Person). “During my almost three years in the General Assembly, one of my priorities has been flying the banner of economic development, especially in rural counties. As part of that effort I have worked hard for full-funding of the One North Carolina Fund. Now that comes home to roost. I am proud of the fact that some One North Carolina Fund money has helped to bring a great defense-related firm to my home county.”
“As vice chairman of the House Commerce Committee, I will continue to work toward military-friendly policies that make North Carolina attractive to defense-related firms that want to grow and prosper.”
Other partners who helped make this project possible include: The N.C. Department of Commerce, Person County, Piedmont Community College, N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Progress Energy and Norfolk & Southern Railroad.
Under the terms of the Job Development Investment Grant agreement, an 11-year grant will be established. Over the life of the grant, the N.C. Department of Commerce estimates the project will:
- Generate a cumulative gross state product value of $275.37 million;
- Produce a positive, cumulative net state revenue impact of $1.84 million; and
- Contribute up to $366,000 to the state’s Industrial Development Fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed areas of North Carolina. This contribution is required of grant recipients that locate in the state’s more prosperous counties.
For each year the company meets required performance targets, the state will provide a grant equivalent to 70 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of the new jobs. If Force Protection creates all the jobs called for under the agreement and sustains them for 11 years, the company could receive a maximum benefit from the JDIG of $2.07 million.
Job Development Investment Grants 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. Since the first grant was awarded in 2003, the program has been responsible for creating more than 20,000 jobs and $3 billion in investments in North Carolina.
For more information about Force Protection including job opportunities