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Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Solstas Lab Partners, a leading medical and diagnostic laboratory, will expand its operations in Guilford County. The company plans to create as many as 500 jobs and invest about $11.6 million dollar over five years to gain maximum benefits from performance-based incentives approved by Guilford County and the City of High Point. The project was made possible in part by a $450,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The state grant will be based on the company creating 300 jobs and investing $7.5 million over the first three years of the project.
“My first priority is creating jobs,” said Gov. Perdue. “One of the best ways to do that is to help existing companies expand. Our strong workforce and job training programs create a top-notch business climate where companies can thrive.”
Solstas Lab Partners, headquartered in Guilford County, has more than 1,750 employees working at numerous labs across the state. The company employs more than 720 full-time workers and 140 part-time positions at its High Point facility. Solstas provides a wide range of clinical, anatomical and esoteric testing services.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs during the first three years of the project will be $49,023, with the average annual wage for all 500 jobs estimated at more than $45,000. The Guilford County average annual wage is $39,520.
"High Point was a natural fit for our expansion," said Solstas CEO David Weavil. "Simply put, the energy and experience of the medical workforce here is exceptional, and meets our needs for a best-in-class organization."
“Today’s announcement is great news for Guilford County because it shows that our investments in education and job training programs continue to pay off,” said Rep. Marcus Brandon, of Guilford County. “Our strong workforce is helping us top other states in the competition for jobs.”
“Solstas’ decision to expand is further proof that companies locate here because of our skilled workforce and the ease of doing business,” said Sen. Gladys Robinson, of Guilford County.
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 60,000 jobs and $11 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Guilford County, the City of High Point, the High Point Economic Development Corporation and Duke Energy Carolinas.
For more information about Solstas Lab Partners, including job opportunities, go to www.solstas.com
