GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES 38 JOBS IN CHOWAN COUNTY

Gov. Mike Easley, D-N.C., issued the following press release:

Gov. Mike Easley today announced that Millennium Marine USA will open a facility in Chowan County, creating 38 jobs and investing $1.5 million during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $75,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.

"There are more than 100 boat building companies employing some 25,000 people in North Carolina," Easley said. "This is an important industry in our state and we will continue to make the necessary investments in workforce development and education to attract growing companies."

Millennium Marine USA is a subsidiary of Millennium Marine of Escuminac, New Brunswick, Canada and will build commercial and recreational fishing boats at a manufacturing plant in Edenton. While wages will vary by job function, the average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $558 plus benefits, which exceeds the county wage standard of $461 not including benefits.

"After three years dreaming of opening a boat manufacturing plant in the United States, Northeastern North Carolina has made my dream come true," said Cory Guimond, president of Millennium Marine. "My decision was based on location, the skilled workforce available and the existing boat building industry. I am really looking forward to working with local businesses and becoming a member of your community."

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. One North Carolina Fund grants require and are contingent upon a local match. Through the use of this Fund, more than 25,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001.

"The General Assembly has worked hard to adopt economic development policies that attract good paying jobs for our citizens," said state Sen. Ed Jones (D, Halifax, Chowan, -Bertie, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, and Perquimans). "I will continue to work to provide our area and the state with an attractive business climate."

"Our efforts to attract growing businesses to the northeastern part of our state are paying off," said state Rep. Tim Spear, (D, Chowan, Dare, Hyde, Washington). "I am proud of the cooperation between state and local agencies to help our communities grow. This goes hand-in-hand with the boat-building programs we are offering at the College of the Albemarle."

Other partners who helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, North Carolina's Northeast Commission, the Edenton/Chowan Development Commission, the Edenton/Chowan Chamber of Commerce and the College of Albemarle.

For information about the company and employment opportunities, please visit www.millenniummarine.ca.

Contact: Seth Effron, 919/733-5612.