Corning Optical Communications plans to add 205 jobs over the next five years at its facilities in Hickory and Winston-Salem.
North Carolina officials announced Monday the company plans to invest nearly $83.5 million.
“Corning is in its 45th year of delivering high-performance fiber optic solutions to global network operators,” said Clark Kinlin, executive vice president of Corning Optical Communications, in a statement. “This long history in North Carolina – and our planned expansions – would not be possible without the ongoing support of local, county, and state government entities. This decision is a win/win for the Hickory and Winston-Salem communities and for our highly skilled, diverse, and dedicated employees who work and live there.”
Corning Optical provides fiber optic communications for voice, data and video networks. Its parent company is Corning Inc. The company already employs more than 3,000 people across North Carolina.
A release from Gov. Pat McCrory’s office says the new jobs will pay on average more than $58,000, though the salaries will vary by position. The average annual wages for residents of Catawba and Forsyth counties are about $38,000 and $50,000, respectively.
“This expansion will build on the more than 300,000 new jobs added in North Carolina since 2013 and will further support our position as one of the fastest growing economies in the nation,” McCrory said. “Corning’s decision to further invest in North Carolina is a testament to our highly-skilled workforce, access to markets and improving business climate.”
Corning Optical has been approved to receive nearly $2 million in job development investment grants if the expansions meet job creation and investment targets.
