120 Jobs Announced In Cleveland County, North Carolina

The following press release was issued by the North Carolina's governor's office on Thursday:
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 120 JOBS IN CLEVELAND COUNTY
One North Carolina Fund Grant Helps PPG Industries Invest $20.5 Million In Shelby

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that PPG Industries FiberGlass Products Inc., a leading manufacturer of fiberglass reinforcements, plans to expand its facility in Shelby, investing $20.5 million and adding 120 jobs during the next three years. The expansion was made possible in part by a $300,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“North Carolina is known internationally for its top-rated business climate,” said Easley. “Our skilled workforce and the state’s quality of life continue to attract good jobs from growing companies like this one.”

PPG Industries FiberGlass Products is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PPG Industries, a worldwide company based in Pennsylvania. Parent company PPG operates 75 production facilities worldwide, including two fiberglass production facilities in Shelby and Lexington, and an industrial paint facility in Greensboro. Together, the N.C. operations employ 1,172 workers. In addition, the Shelby plant houses PPG’s global fiberglass research and development laboratories.

In Shelby, the company plans to increase production of fiberglass to meet growing demand for wind turbines, which have wind blades made of resin-coated fiberglass. Salaries for the 120 new positions will vary by job type, but the average annual wage will be $32,183 not including benefits. That is more than the Cleveland County average annual wage of $31,200.

“PPG is pleased to continue our support of industries such as wind energy and energy infrastructure with this capacity expansion in the U.S.,” said Victoria M. Holt, PPG senior vice president, glass and fiberglass. “Long-term demand for PPG’s Hybon single-end rovings has grown globally by double digits, and we expect this growth to continue in light of applications like wind energy, which have grown more than 40 percent in the U.S. in 2007 and 2008. In spite of current economic uncertainties, the foundation for demand growth is solid for the longer term.”

The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Through the use of the One North Carolina Fund, more than 35,000 jobs and $6.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001. All of these grants require local matches.

Other partners who helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, Cleveland County, Cleveland 20/20 Economic Development Partnership, City of Shelby, Gardner-Webb University and Cleveland Community College.

For more information about PPG Industries, including employment opportunities, go to: www.ppg.com.

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