North Carolina’s General Assembly gave its approval Thursday to a package of incentives worth as much as $242 million to convince Dell to build a new computer manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
The facility is likely to be located in the Triad. It could employ 2,000 or more people plus create other jobs in the region, according to state officials.
“The measure approved today is a critical component in our efforts to secure a major computer-manufacturing operation to the Triad region,” Governor Mike Easley said in a statement after the session he called closed. “I applaud the action by the legislature to help bring 8,000 jobs to hard working North Carolina families in an area of the state hit hard by job loss due to federal trade policies. These are good jobs that bring better benefits and better skills to the transitioning Triad economy. I believe that this package will ensure that we secure this project in North Carolina.”
On Oct. 19, Dell’s CEO indicated as much.
Recent reports that Dell will pick North Carolina as the site for a new manufacturing plant are “more accurate than not,” Dell CEO Kevin Rollins told CNET News.
A decision is expected to be announced “within weeks”, CNET added.
More than 100 business leaders from the Triad showed up to lobby at the special session.
According to The Associated Press, a decision about the plant could be made within a few days.
Incentives to Dell include credits for PCs manufactured as well as jobs created.
